Firefighters on the Watson Creek Fire near Paisley, Oregon. (Inciweb)

Infrared Map Watson Creek FireCLICK FOR LARGER — Infrared Map Watson Creek Fire
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Fire at a Glance

Size: 35,287 acres
Containment: 10%
Location: 13 miles West of Paisley, Oregon (Paisley Ranger District)
Cause: Under Investigation
Assigned Personnel: 686, 19 Crews, 30 Engines
Aircraft: 2 Type 1 helicopters, 2 Type 2 helicopters, 1 Type 3 helicopter
Structures Threatened: 12 Residences, 25 Other

Details

Firefighters were able to take advantage of the cooler temperatures yesterday and higher relative humidity recoveries overnight to make progress on the fire. Some growth did occur on the southeastern edge. The total acreage is now at 35,287.

A community meeting is scheduled for tonight, August 22, at 7:00 p.m. at the Paisley Community Center.

Crews will work today to limit the spread of the fire to the north, east, and south as conditions allow and work to minimize suppression impacts to riparian areas. Additional fire resources will continue to arrive today. Continued hazards for firefighters are snags, dead and down lodgepole pine and difficult terrain.

The temperatures today in the fire area are forecasted to be in the 70’s to lower 80’s with relative humidity at 15-30%. Light northerly winds in the morning are expected to switch to westerly in the afternoon with gusts up to 15 mph. Warming and drying should occur over the fire this afternoon and fire behavior is likely to begin to be more active by midafternoon.

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 now includes the Gearhart Mountain Wilderness Area. The expansion is to the southeast, south and southwest of the previous closure.

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