The Beachie Creek Fire, burning near Detroit, and the Lionshead Fire, near Breitenbush, had both remained relatively small since lightning strikes started them Aug. 16. But high winds and dry weather across the state reinvigorated the fires over the weekend, sparking new blazes as the winds carried embers miles down the canyon. Residents of Detroit, Breitenbush, Idanha and nearby communities were initially told to expect to evacuate by late Tuesday morning, but the situation deteriorated quickly overnight.
Dry, east winds pushed fires along Highway 22 and Highway 126 down the canyons, sparking Level 3 evacuation notices that stretch for dozens of miles. Downed trees from the flames blocked traffic heading east on Highway 22, forcing fleeing residents to turn around and head for Salem.
Early Tuesday morning, campers at Detroit Lake area state parks were evacuated. Later, campers and visitors at Silver Falls State Park near Sublimity and Silverton were evacuated. Oregon State Parks representatives told OPB those parks will be closed until further notice.
Red Cross evacuation centers have been set up at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds in Redmond to the east and Oregon State Fairgrounds in Salem to the west.
At 6:45 a.m., footage showed a fire burning in the fields near Molalla in Clackamas County. It is unclear if the fire was started by sparks from the nearby Beachie Creek Fire.
Clackamas Fire said Tuesday morning that it had managed to contain several fires that sparked Monday night — including fires in and near Oregon City, near the Portland metro area. The agency said it is also responding to multiple fires reported in Estacada.
Some school districts postpone classes
Several Oregon school districts are postponing the first day of school Tuesday due to power outages and emergency evacuations.
Affected school districts include Canby, Oregon City, Gervais, Molalla River and Colton.
Cascade School District reports no kindergarten or preschool, and no distance learning due to several staff members evacuating due to fire danger.
School for Scio students doesn’t start until Sept. 14, but district-wide training planned for teachers in the district has been postponed.
In messages on social media, school districts expressed plans to reopen Wednesday.
Food and technology distribution, as well as childcare, remain open at some sites.
Oregon Coast Community College is also closed Tuesday due to highway closures, power outages, and local fires.
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Fire, evacuations near Mckenzie Bridge
A wildfire burning along Highway 126 near McKenzie Bridge has closed the highway and brought Level 3 “Go Now” evacuations from Walterville Elementary School to the McKenzie River Ranger Station near Belknap Springs, a stretch of over 40 miles. At 6 a.m., the Lane County Sheriff’s Office issued Level 1 “Be Ready” evacuations that extend west to the intersection of Highway 126 and Thurston Road, just a few miles east of Springfield. At 8:30 AM, the Level 3 “Go Now” order was expanded West to Walterville Elementary School from Leaburg.
Evacuations for towns along Highway 22
A series of fast-moving wildfires spurred Level 3 “Go Now” and Level 2 “Get Set” evacuations for communities along a 40-mile stretch of highway in the central Cascades late Monday night and into Tuesday.
Towns along Highway 22, from Lyons-Mehama through Idanha, were told to evacuate immediately early Tuesday morning. The cities of Stayton and Sublimity were put under a Level 2 “Get Set” evacuation order shortly before 5 a.m. Fire has been reported as far west as Mehama, dozens of miles from the Beachie Creek Fire, and evacuees report seeing flames along both sides of Highway 22.
Residents fled in the middle of the night, the status of their homes and friends uncertain. In a Facebook post, Mill City officials said “at this time we have no information on the status of our homes, businesses and community.” But on community Facebook groups, residents shared stories of their evacuations, letting each other know which houses and landmarks were still standing, and which were already gone.
Residents of Stayton responded to a post on the city’s Facebook page, saying that they didn’t receive mobile emergency alerts notifying them of the Level 2 evacuation notices. Others farther east on Highway 22 under Level 3 evacuation orders said it took several hours for mobile alerts to arrive. Many heard of the evacuations in other ways and had already left their homes.
There’s very little official information. Cell towers have been clogged and lines are down. For most of Tuesday morning, an emergency information line set up by the Marion County Sheriff’s department had rang busy, and residents and reporters have been unable to get through.
At 7:15 AM, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office extended Level 3 “Go” orders to a large swath of residents from the city of Scott’s Mills south through the Crooked Finger area.
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