Firefighters Achieve 15% Containment of Beachie Creek Fire

The Beachie Creek Fire and the Riverside Fire remain about one mile apart.

Larry Nicky, Liaison Officer NW Incident Management Team 13, opens this morning's meeting addressing the Beachie Creek Fire. Photo: @BeachieCreekFire2020

(MARION COUNTY, Ore.) - The increased acreage in Beachie Creek Fire reported today is not due to fire spread over the past 24 hours but because an aerial assessment was completed. This allowed for a more accurate measure and improved mapping of the fire.

Firefighters will resume work Tuesday to secure the perimeter of the Beachie Creek Fire. Crews and heavy equipment continue to connect and strengthen existing control line together on the west and northwest portions of the fire.

Good progress was made in this area over the last couple days. Firefighters continue to work with landowners on the southeastern perimeter of the fire to build and secure control lines in that area. Firefighters will also continue mopping up and systematically assessing damage to structures inside the fire.

Due to these efforts, firefighters have achieved 15% containment.

The Beachie Creek Fire and the Riverside Fire remain about one mile apart. Officials from nearby fires are coordinating strategies to minimize fire growth and stabilize incidents.

Extremely dry vegetation and a lack of natural holding features in the Table Rock Wilderness and surrounding areas mean it is still possible the fires could burn together. Based on current weather, it is anticipated that a future merger would not result in dynamic fire behavior as seen last week.

Fire officials are working closely with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, ODOT and the Oregon State Police to coordinate recovery efforts along the Santiam Canyon.

Currently 16,776 structures are at Level 3 evacuations and another 18,528 homes in level 2 evacuations. It is imperative to protect first responders and communities in the path of the fire that everyone heeds fire and law enforcement road closures and evacuations.

Anyone who enters the fire perimeter jeopardizes firefighting and rescue operations, puts lives at risk, and potentially increases the time it will take to return residents to their communities.

WEATHER:

Relative humidity is expected to be lower, 30-45 percent, on the east side of the fire and at elevations above 2,500 feet. The weather system forecasted to bring rain on Tuesday stalled and is too far west to add moisture to the fire. A low pressure system is forecasted for later this week with higher chances of rain.

SAFETY:

Know the Ready, Set, Go levels and make appropriate preparations. READY your belongings; SET your things at the door or prepack them in your car; GO and leave immediately.

To see current Marion County Evacuation Zones, please visit: http://bit.ly/MCEvacZones

SMOKE:

Some mid-level cloud movement may allow for slight improvements to air quality mid-day, Tuesday. Smoke levels can change rapidly depending on weather. Check current conditions on DEQ’s Air Quality Index, the Oregon Smoke Blog or by downloading the free OregonAIR app on your smartphone.

CLOSURES:

Roads in the forest are closed to the public unless being used to evacuate. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands in the vicinity of the fire and State lands managed by Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) including the Santiam State Forest are also closed to the public. Go to InciWeb for more information about closures in the area.