UPDATE (Monday, Aug. 5, at 6:45 a.m. PT) — As of Sunday, the Milepost 97 Fire in Douglas County was 55% contained.
According to officials managing the battle against the fire, it grew moderately from Saturday into Sunday evening. As of 10 p.m. Sunday, it was burning 13,119 acres.
ODF said the fire has a "burned footprint" of about 20 square miles, which is twice the size of the city of Roseburg.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and fire officials reduced evacuation levels around the fire Friday morning.
All residences in the area that were under a Level 2 “be set” evacuation notice have been downgraded to a Level 1 “be ready” notice as of 10 a.m. Friday.
That includes the following areas:
- The 100-300 blocks of Ritchie Road in Canyonville, Oregon
- All residences on the west side of the freeway between Interstate 5 mileposts 88 and 83
- All residences on Upper Cow Creek Road starting at I-5 milepost 88, east to the base of Galesville Dam
The fire started sometime on Wednesday, July 25, from an illegal campfire, according to a preliminary investigation. The fire still threatened almost 600 structures in the area as of Sunday evening.
