FIREFIGHTERS CONTINUE BATTLING THE SWEET CREEK WILDFIRE IN WESTERN LANE COUNTY
News Release from Oregon Dept. of Forestry
Posted on FlashAlert: August 31st, 2020 11:01 AM
MAPLETON, Ore. - Firefighters today are continuing their fight to slow the spread of a 400-acre wildfire in private forestland about 1 mile southeast of Mapleton in western Lane County. The fire is in steep terrain on the south side of the Siuslaw River and is burning toward the south away from Mapleton.
Fire crews aided by six bulldozes, five water tenders, an excavator and a processor, are reinforcing control lines this morning that they dug yesterday. They are adding water hoses to the fire lines and working to extend those lines. However, the fire is still officially 0% contained.
Meanwhile, two helicopters are taking water from the Siuslaw River to drop on the fire. ODF fire officials are asking the pubic to avoid the area downstream from Mapleton in the Hadsall Creek Road section of the Siuslaw River where the helicopters are refilling their buckets. Fire officials are also asking the public to avoid the Hadsall Creek Road and Sweet Creek Road areas because of heavy firefighting traffic.
Lane County Sherrif has eight homes under a Level 3 (Go) evacuation order and 24 homes under a Level 2 (Get Set) evacuation order.
A number of local firefighting agencies have been assisting on the fire, including :
- Mapleton Fire Department
- Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue (Florence)
- Swisshome-Deadwood Rural Fire Protection District
Other agencies aiding in the fire include the Lance County Emergency Management, Lane County Road Department, Lane County Sheriff, Oregon Department of Transportation and the USDA Forest Service.
ODF Incident Management Team One led by Joe Hessel will take command of the fire at 6 p.m. tonight, freeing up local resources to focus again on initial attack on any new fires in coming days.
Cause of the fire is under investigation.
Marcus Kauffman, ODF Public Information Officer, 541-580-7480, marcus.kauffman@oregon.gov
Jim Gersbach, ODF Public Information Officer, 503-945-7201, jim.gersbach@oregon.gov
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