(Originally published at 1:09 p.m. PDT July 26, 2019)
The Milepost 97 fire in southwest Oregon burned actively Thursday and Thursday night growing to 1,650 acres. The fire is one mile south of Canyonville on the west side of Interstate 5. (see map above)
It was reported Wednesday, July 24 at approximately 10:00 p.m. and is burning in steep, rocky terrain with limited access. Most of the fire is within an old fire scar from 1987. A preliminary investigation indicates it was started by a campfire.
(To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Milepost 97 Fire, including the most current, click here.)
The area is managed by the Douglas Forest Protective Association.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office issued a Level 3 “Go” evacuation order at 7:20 Thursday night, which applied to approximately three residences in the 100 to 300 blocks of Ritchie Road.
The Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team 3 (Incident Commander Smith) has been mobilized to assist the Douglas Forest Protective Association. The team is scheduled to assume command of the fire Friday evening.
Douglas Forest Protective Association.
Flames from the Milepost 97 Fire light up a ridge behind the six-story Forest Glen Senior Redisence tonight in Canyonville. #Milepost97Fire pic.twitter.com/Cf0bVs1L5M
— Scott Stoddard (@scottstoddard) July 26, 2019
According to the DFPA facebook page estimated size is 6k acres.
Been down that stretch of I-5 several times, that is some rough, steep country. Be careful, folks!