Middle Fork Complex fires in Willamette National Forest prompt Level 3 evacuations

By Love Cross (KLCC)
Aug. 1, 2021 3:36 p.m.

Level 3 -Go!- evacuation orders were issued Saturday in the area of the Middle Fork Complex of fires east of Lowell on the Willamette National Forest.

The evacuation order is for all homes, campgrounds and dispersed recreation along Forest Service Road 18 east of the intersection with Forest Service Road 1821, including Puma Campground and Bedrock Campground. Updated evacuation information can be found here. Officials are also posting updates on the newly created Middle Fork Complex Facebook page.

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The Middle Fork Complex includes 12 wildfires ignited by lightning that range in location including near Fall Creek, Hills Creek Reservoir, and north of Huckleberry. The largest are the Gales Fire which was estimated to be around 400 acres as of Sunday morning, and the Windfall fire which was estimated to be 90 acres.

In other large fires burning in Oregon, the Jack Fire 20 miles east of Glide is now 75% contained and is burning across 23,002 acres. Fire officials have now established a complex fire in the area after multiple small lightning fires started over the last three days in a remote location along the Upper Steamboat Creek Drainage. Newly named the Rough Patch Complex, these fires are located approximately 10 miles north of the Jack Fire.

The Bootleg Fire in South-Central Oregon is burning on 413,734 acres and is 75% contained.

The Elbow Creek Fire burning in the Umatilla National Forest now stands at 22,960 acres. Containment has reached 64 percent.

Copyright 2021, KLCC

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