The Milepost 97 Fire south of Canyonville, has grown to over 11,000 acres as of mid-morning Sunday, is threatening 586 structures, and is 5% contained.
The latest update from the Oregon Department of Forestry said strong winds continued over the fire through most of the evening shift. That caused the fire to remain active through most of the night. Ground crews worked to contain spot fires across Interstate Five near the Turkey Creek/milepost 94 area. The focus of Sunday’s work will be to continue the work on the spot fires and to safely construct line along the I-5 corridor and along the south and southeastern edges of the fire.
The update said crews are making progress along the northern edge of the fire, having constructed line and starting to plumb. The western edge is being constructed along the ridgetops to create a continuous line where possible. Crews will continue to build this line and strengthen what has been constructed.
The Milepost 97 Fire is burning within a fire scar from 1987 filled with hazardous snags and overgrown brush.
A Level 2 “Get Set” evacuation notice remains in place for all residences on the west side of the freeway in a five-mile stretch of Interstate Five between mileposts 88 and 83. That includes Barton Road, Azalea-Glen Road, Booth Lane, Harrel Lane, Hobbs Lane, Fortune Branch Road on the Azalea-Glen side, Forrest Road, Realty Road, Quines Creek Road, and Mobley Drive.
In addition, all residences off of Upper Cow Creek Road starting at Interstate Five milepost 88, east to the Galesville Dam are at Level 2.
A Level 1, “Get Ready” notice is also in effect for all residents living on Windy Creek Road at and above Woods Creek Road and on Barton Road south to Glendale Junction Road.
A community meeting will take place Sunday night at 7:00 p.m. at Glendale High School.
931 personnel are working on the Milepost 97 Fire. 37 hand crews, 41 engines, 11 dozers, 6 water tenders and 15 aircraft are involved in the suppression effort. The human caused fire began on Wednesday night and has cost over $2.1 million to fight so far.