Wildfire Update: Watson Creek Fire 8/21/18
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Infared Map of the Watson Fire, 8/21/18.
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Watson Creek Fire Closure Map.
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Fire at a Glance
Size: 32,104 acres
Containment: 5%
Location: 13 miles West of Paisley, Oregon (Paisley Ranger District)
Cause: Under Investigation
Assigned Personnel: 556, 15 Crews, 34 Engines
Aircraft: 4 Type 2 medium helicopters, 1 Type 3 helicopter
Structures Threatened: 12 Residences, 25 Other
Details
The Watson Creek Fire continues to burn in the Fremont-Winema National Forest. Some growth occurred on the southeastern edge. The total acreage is now at 32,104.
A community meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, August 22, at 7:00 p.m. at the Paisley Community Center.
Today, on the northern flank of the fire, crews plan to hold and improve the night operations’ work. East of Slide Lake, crews expect to continue burning and mop up. Dozers are anticipated to strengthen the lines on the 3360 and 3315 Roads around Hadley Butte. Work continues west of the Bald Butte Lookout on the 3411 Road. More firefighting resources are arriving today. Firefighters continue to face challenges due to hazard trees and snags, dead and down lodgepole pine and difficult terrain.
Last night’s thunderstorm generated a few lightning strikes east of the fire area. There was rain with the storm over the fire area, which helped firefighting efforts overnight. The temperature today in the fire area will be milder with relative humidity at 20-30%. Winds are forecasted to be out of the north to northeast with afternoon gusts up to 15 mph with variable wind direction.
The Level 3 (GO) evacuation for the Lakeview Estates neighborhood just north of Campbell and Deadhorse Lakes in the Fremont-Winema National Forest is still in effect today.
A Level 1 (Be Ready) evacuation area is in place for residents west of Oregon State Highway 31 between mileposts 79 and 105. Residents in the area should be aware of current conditions. If evacuations become necessary, it will be coordinated through the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and communicated through the Incident Management Team, SCOFMP and Fremont-Winema National Forest. It is recommended to always “Be Ready” when living near a fire-prone area.
The emergency closure area for Fremont-Winema National Forest was expanded last night to include the Gearhart Mountain Wilderness Area. The expansion is to the southeast, south and southwest of the previous closure.
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