CLACKAMAS COUNTY, Ore. — County officials have declared a state of emergency as several active wildfires in the county led to evacuations. All of the county is under some level of evacuation.
At least 30,000 people were alerted by officials to leave their homes immediately. Officials said Wednesday evening that people living anywhere in the county not explicitly under a Level 2 or Level 3 evacuation are under a Level 1 (be ready) evacuation order.
Interactive map: Evacuation orders in Clackamas County
"Everyone needs to be ready for evacuation even if you're in an urban area," Nancy Bush, Director of Disaster Management for Clackamas County said.
Around 9:30 p.m. the sheriff's office announced Level 3 Evacuations would expand to include all of Eaden Road and west to South Harding Road.
Around 8 p.m. county officials said the Level 3 evacuation area had expanded to a small area west of Beavercreek Road which includes all of S Gard Road. Also Unger Road to the first part of Windy City.
County officials on Wednesday afternoon updated the list of evacuation check-in sites and provided a link that shows which sites are open, which are closed and which are full.
Just after 1 p.m., the sheriff's office announced that the city of Estacada was under a Level 3 (Go now!) evacuation order due to the Riverside Fire. Deputies were going door to door to get people out of their homes.
The Riverside Fire, in the Mt. Hood National Forest, was continuing to grow and push westward down Highway 224. The fire moved 17 miles on Tuesday. By Wednesday evening it had grown to 112,000 acres.
Wednesday night, county officials said the Level 3 evacuation area had expanded to a small area west of Beavercreek Road which includes all of S Gard Road and Unger Road to the first part of Windy City. The area from Eaden Rd and west to S Harding Rd was also added.
The three other major wildfires in the county are Dowdy, Unger and Wilhoit.
Interactive map: Wildfires burning throughout Oregon
A Clackamas County fire official said the fires were multiplying quickly throughout the week because the wind kept picking up embers from existing fires and carrying them to nearby areas, where they would start new spot fires.
On Tuesday night, county officials reported a fire near Highway 213 and South Spangler Road around 10:30 p.m. By 11:30 p.m., ODOT had blocked the highway at Carus Road and Union Hall Road and notified people in the area to leave. At 3:04 a.m. Wednesday, Clackamas Fire tweeted that crews contained the fire and were putting out hot spots. The fire started when a motor home caught on fire and spread to a nearby house and about 10 acres of brush. Two homes burned down. Several other homes were evacuated but those evacuees have now returned. No injuries were reported.
Your pics September 9, 2020: Images of the fiery skies across Oregon and Washington
A fire broke out Monday night at RSG Forest Products, a lumber mill in Molalla off Highway 213. Early reports said the fire began around midnight when a tree fell on live wires in a nearby field.
Clackamas County fire officials said early Tuesday morning the fire had grown to about 200 acres and was 50% contained. Winds continue to keep hot spots burning. About 50 homes had evacuated, according to fire officials.
The fire chief of Molalla said because of a lack of water and resources, they were letting the wood product at the lumber mill burn so they can focus on protecting the machinery at the mill and homes in the area. Employees at RSG Forest Products were also helping protect the machinery.
Evacuees were set up at Grace Church in Molalla and Molalla High School.
Highway 213 was shut down Tuesday night but has since reopened.
Residents in the area of South Wilhoit Road and South Bird Road, south of Molalla, have been notified of the fire.
WILDFIRE
All of Clackamas County is under Level 1, 2 or 3 evacuation order
Firefighters are battling four active major wildfires. Thousands of homes have been evacuated.
Author: KGW Staff
Published: 6:31 AM PDT September 8, 2020
Updated: 11:30 PM PDT September 9, 2020
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CLACKAMAS COUNTY, Ore. — County officials have declared a state of emergency as several active wildfires in the county led to evacuations. All of the county is under some level of evacuation.
At least 30,000 people were alerted by officials to leave their homes immediately. Officials said Wednesday evening that people living anywhere in the county not explicitly under a Level 2 or Level 3 evacuation are under a Level 1 (be ready) evacuation order.
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Interactive map: Evacuation orders in Clackamas County
"Everyone needs to be ready for evacuation even if you're in an urban area," Nancy Bush, Director of Disaster Management for Clackamas County said.
Around 9:30 p.m. the sheriff's office announced Level 3 Evacuations would expand to include all of Eaden Road and west to South Harding Road.
Around 8 p.m. county officials said the Level 3 evacuation area had expanded to a small area west of Beavercreek Road which includes all of S Gard Road. Also Unger Road to the first part of Windy City.
County officials on Wednesday afternoon updated the list of evacuation check-in sites and provided a link that shows which sites are open, which are closed and which are full.
Just after 1 p.m., the sheriff's office announced that the city of Estacada was under a Level 3 (Go now!) evacuation order due to the Riverside Fire. Deputies were going door to door to get people out of their homes.
The Riverside Fire, in the Mt. Hood National Forest, was continuing to grow and push westward down Highway 224. The fire moved 17 miles on Tuesday. By Wednesday evening it had grown to 112,000 acres.
Wednesday night, county officials said the Level 3 evacuation area had expanded to a small area west of Beavercreek Road which includes all of S Gard Road and Unger Road to the first part of Windy City. The area from Eaden Rd and west to S Harding Rd was also added.
The three other major wildfires in the county are Dowdy, Unger and Wilhoit.
Interactive map: Wildfires burning throughout Oregon
A Clackamas County fire official said the fires were multiplying quickly throughout the week because the wind kept picking up embers from existing fires and carrying them to nearby areas, where they would start new spot fires.
On Tuesday night, county officials reported a fire near Highway 213 and South Spangler Road around 10:30 p.m. By 11:30 p.m., ODOT had blocked the highway at Carus Road and Union Hall Road and notified people in the area to leave. At 3:04 a.m. Wednesday, Clackamas Fire tweeted that crews contained the fire and were putting out hot spots. The fire started when a motor home caught on fire and spread to a nearby house and about 10 acres of brush. Two homes burned down. Several other homes were evacuated but those evacuees have now returned. No injuries were reported.
Your pics September 9, 2020: Images of the fiery skies across Oregon and Washington
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Yaquina Bay Bridge in Newport, OR. Credit: Jeff Skotland
A fire broke out Monday night at RSG Forest Products, a lumber mill in Molalla off Highway 213. Early reports said the fire began around midnight when a tree fell on live wires in a nearby field.
Clackamas County fire officials said early Tuesday morning the fire had grown to about 200 acres and was 50% contained. Winds continue to keep hot spots burning. About 50 homes had evacuated, according to fire officials.
The fire chief of Molalla said because of a lack of water and resources, they were letting the wood product at the lumber mill burn so they can focus on protecting the machinery at the mill and homes in the area. Employees at RSG Forest Products were also helping protect the machinery.
Evacuees were set up at Grace Church in Molalla and Molalla High School.
Highway 213 was shut down Tuesday night but has since reopened.
Residents in the area of South Wilhoit Road and South Bird Road, south of Molalla, have been notified of the fire.
Portland General Electric reported at 9:50 a.m. Wednesday that nearly 25,000 residents in Clackamas County were without electricity due to high-wind and fire conditions.
RELATED: Help Oregon and Washington residents affected by the wildfires
On Wednesday, Clackamas County also issued an air quality advisory for the entire county due to the smoke from the wildfires.
In a release, Clackamas County said it consulted the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and though it has issued and advisory, the air quality levels are changing rapidly.
There are air quality advisories for many parts of Oregon including the Willamette Valley and the Portland-Vancouver area through Thursday afternoon.
According to DEQ, you can take steps to protect your health when smoke levels are high: