Lincoln, Linn, And Tillamook County Fire Agencies Deploy To East Evans Creek Road Fire, In Jackson County (fifth Deployment) (Photo) - 08/10/26

Lincoln County, — August 7, 2026 — On Thursday, August 6, 2026, at 05:00 am, the Lincoln County Fire Defense Board fulfilled a resource request from the Oregon State Fire Marshal's Office to pre-position Task Force 52 to Sutherlin, Oregon, in Douglas County to bolster response in the area due to Red Flag warnings in the area.

Task Force #52 is comprised of units from Lincoln & Tillamook Counties with the following resources.

North Lincoln Fire (Lincoln Co.) - E-15 - (Type 3 Engine)
Central County Fire (Lincoln Co.) - HB-73 - (Type 3 Engine)
Newport Fire ( Lincoln Co.) - BR-31 - (Type 6 Engine)
Seal Rock Fire (Lincoln Co.) - BR-62 - (Type 6 Engine)
Tillamook Bay Fire (Tillamook Co.) - WT-71 - (Water Tender)
North Lincoln Fire (Lincoln Co.) - C-1 - (Task Force Leader)

The deployment is being led by Task Force Leader Chief Rob Dahlman of North Lincoln Fire & Rescue.

Task Force 52 departed Lincoln County early Thursday morning at 05:00 hours and arrived at its pre-positioning location in Sutherlin at approximately 09:00 hours. The task force was initially assigned to pre-position in the area, allowing resources to respond rapidly to any new wildfire starts with the goal of containing incidents while they are still small and before they can threaten communities. Pre-positioning assignments are typically a 72-hour commitment.

However, during the second day of the assignment, Task Force 52 was redirected from its pre-positioning mission to assist with the Wrights Spring Fire in Klamath County.
The Wrights Spring Fire experienced rapid growth following its start on August 5, 2026. Significant fire activity over the past day has increased the need for additional firefighting resources. The fire is currently estimated at 8,772 acres, and firefighters continue to face challenging conditions as suppression operations move forward.

With Task Force 52 now committed to the Wrights Spring Fire, what began as a 72-hour pre-positioning assignment may now extend to up to 14 days, depending on fire activity, incident needs, and operational requirements.

Task Force 52 represents the fifth deployment of Lincoln County fire resources requested by the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) this week. What began as a pre-positioning assignment has now transitioned into an active wildfire deployment, adding Lincoln County firefighters and apparatus to the growing statewide response. These personnel are working alongside firefighters from across Oregon to protect lives, property, communities, and natural resources as wildfire activity continues to increase.

On behalf of the Lincoln County Fire Defense Board, I extend my sincere appreciation to the firefighters and agencies that continue to answer the call to assist our fellow Oregonians. Their willingness to leave their home communities and serve wherever they are needed demonstrates the professionalism and dedication of our firefighters and the strength of Oregon's mutual aid system.

As wildfire activity increases across the state, we ask residents and visitors to remain vigilant and use extreme caution with any activity that could start a fire. Avoid operating equipment that may produce sparks during the hottest and driest portions of the day, fully extinguish campfires where they are permitted, and never discard smoking materials on the ground or from a vehicle.

We also continue to remind everyone that a debris burning ban remains in effect throughout Lincoln County. These restrictions are an important part of reducing the risk of preventable, human-caused wildfires during this period of elevated fire danger.

We are grateful for the continued support of our communities as Lincoln County personnel assist with wildfire response efforts across Oregon. While our firefighters are answering the call elsewhere in the state, each of us can do our part here at home by following current fire restrictions and taking precautions to prevent additional wildfire starts.

Please keep the residents and communities affected by the Wrights Spring Fire, as well as the firefighters, emergency responders, and incident support personnel working to protect lives and property, in your thoughts as suppression efforts continue.