By DOUG BATES/Editor/The Herald — Oakridge-Westfir residents woke up Monday morning, Aug. 9, to a blood-red sunrise, acrid wildfire smoke and a continued Level 1 “BE READY” evacuation notice for parts of the community most threatened by the Kwis Fire east of town.
Warmer, drier weather conditions were expected later in the day, accompanied by “increased fire activity,” managers of the Middle Fork Complex fires said in a statement.
“Expect smoke columns from these fires to be visible from surrounding areas especially in the afternoon,” the statement said.
Led by the U.S. Forest Service, the interagency team fighting the fires plans a “community fire briefing” for the public at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Greenwaters Park picnic shelter in Oakridge.
Meanwhile, an evacuation notice approved by Oakridge Fire and EMS on Sunday remained in effect Monday. The Level 1 “BE READY” notice applied to the High Prairie and Fish Hatchery areas as well as Oakridge north of Roberts Road, the Elk Meadows subdivision and Oakridge east of Salmon Creek. An evacuation map is available at this county website.
Level 1 means residents should be aware of the danger that exists in the area, monitor local media outlets and telephone devices to receive further information. This is the time for preparation and precautionary movement of persons with special needs, mobile property, pets and livestock.
A new fire was reported Monday in the Hardesty Trailhead area west of Oakridge off Highway 58, diverting some resources from the Kwis Fire.
A spot fire that broke through the western perimeter of the Kwis Fire on Sunday apparently spread the burn westward and closer to Oakridge, according to photos posted Monday on social media by Oakridge residents. Originally, fire managers said the blaze was six miles east of Oakridge near Salmon Creek. More recent briefings said it was five miles from town, and new photos make it appear closer than that.
The entire Salmon Creek Road (Forest Road 24) is off-limits to the public during the fire fight.
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