Douglas County Evening Wildfire Update 09/10/2020 (Photo) - 09/10/20

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. - The Archie Creek Fire Officials will be holding a live public meeting tomorrow, Friday, September 11, 2020 at 2:00 pm. This will be a live stream video information briefing regarding the fire affecting several of our communities. Please check the Archie Creek Fire information Facebook page for a link to the live video beginning at 1:55 PM. The briefing will begin at 2:00 PM

As of the time of this press release, there are no new fire evacuations. Sheriff Hanlin is committed to providing evacuated residents with enhanced patrols of the evacuated areas. Deputies and Troopers from the Oregon State Police are patrolling residential areas in an effort to deter and detect criminal activities during the evacuation period. Residents who have video surveillance or cameras, should call and report any suspicious activity they observe so it can be investigated. 

The Sheriff's Office has created a page on its website which contains maps of the current evacuation zones. The maps attempt to provide a visual of the most current evacuation zones by showing roads and specific addresses in some cases. The maps can be found at www.dcso.com/evacuations and are updated as quickly as possible.

The following evacuations remain in place: 

LEVEL 1 "BE READY": Residents should be aware of the danger that exists in their area, monitor emergency services websites and local media outlets for information. This is the time for preparation and precautionary movement of persons with special needs, mobile property and (under certain circumstances) pets and livestock. If conditions worsen, emergency services personnel may contact you via an emergency notification system. ALL COUNTY RESIDENTS SHOULD BE IN THIS LEVEL OF READINESS AT ALL TIMES!

• ALL OF DOUGLAS COUNTY

LEVEL 2 "BE SET": YOU MUST PREPARE TO LEAVE AT A MOMENTS NOTICE. This level indicates there is significant danger to your area, and residents should either voluntarily relocate to a shelter or with family/friends outside of the affected area, or if choosing to remain, to be ready to evacuate at a moment's notice. Residents MAY have time to gather necessary items, but doing so is at their own risk. THIS MAY BE THE ONLY NOTICE YOU RECEIVE. Emergency services cannot guarantee that they will be able to notify you if conditions rapidly deteriorate.

FRENCH CREEK FIRE: 

• North Bank Road 
• Rivershore Drive
• Single Tree Lane

ARCHIE CREEK FIRE: 

• Nonpareil Road 4400-7500 block (Including Fair Oaks Road, Fraser Canyon, Bonanza Mine, Plat K)

LEVEL 3 "GO!": LEAVE IMMEDIATELY! Danger to your area is current or imminent and you should evacuate immediately. If you choose to ignore this advisement, you must understand that emergency services may not be able to assist you further. DO NOT delay leaving to gather any belongings or make efforts to protect your home or any structure. THIS WILL BE THE LAST NOTICE YOU RECEIVE.

ARCHIE CREEK FIRE:

• Dry Creek (Happy Creek Ln, Felix Flat, Elk Ridge, Illahee)
• Steamboat Creek to Little River Road in Glide (Includes all addresses between these points, Includes the towns of Idleyld Park and Glide)
• All of Little River Road
• The end of Nonpareil Road west to Banks Creek Road

THIELSEN FIRE (Diamond Lake):

• Diamond Lake (Includes all recreation sites, Diamond Lake Lodge, Private Summer Homes)

EVACUATION AND EMERGENCY SHELTER LOCATION:

Douglas County Commissioners opened up the Douglas County Fairgrounds as an evacuation location for displaced wildfire residents, pets and livestock.  As of 10:00 am this morning, Thursday, September 10, 2020, all RV full hook up spaces have been filled, but there are a few electrical hook up locations and plenty of dry camping spots available.  Space and priority is being given to Douglas County residents who have received Level 2 and Level 3 Evacuation notices.

For more information about space availability at the Fairgrounds, please contact Ciera Keith at the Fairground Office at (541) 440-4394. 

The horse and large animal stalls are now full at the Fairgrounds.  If you have horses or other large animals, please contact the Douglas County Parks Department at (541) 440-6040 for horse campground or private land owner resources and referrals.  If you have small animals (cats, dogs, birds, etc) that need boarding due to the wildfires, please contact Saving Grace at (541) 672-3907.  For other small animals like pigs, sheep or goats, contact the Douglas County Fairgrounds for space information. 

The American Red Cross, working in conjunction with the Salvation Army have set up a temporary Emergency Shelter in Douglas Hall at the Douglas County Fairgrounds.  They have cots set up that are COVID-19 friendly, a resource center, food and water available and they are serving limited meals from the kitchen.  They are working directly with Public Health to make sure that all COVID protocols and guidelines for masks, health, sanitation and screening are properly in place.  For more information, please contact the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army directly.  You can reach the Salvation Army at (541) 672-6581 and the American Red Cross at (541) 344-5244.

CURRENT FIRE INFORMATION:

We have heard from several residents from the community of Sutherlin about their concern for the Archie Creek Fire which is burning near Nonpareil Road. Please understand we are monitoring the situation and working closely with fire officials. At this time, there is no immediate danger to the residents who are not in a Level 3 "GO!" Evacuation zone. Should conditions change, you will be notified. It is recommended that you follow official sources for the most current and up to date information. 

The following agencies are managing the local wildfires. Please log onto their websites, Facebook pages or call their offices for more information.

The Archie Creek Fire: managed by Northwest Interagency Incident Management - Team 9.

Website: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7176/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Archie-Creek-Fire-Information-120244459815292/

The French Creek Wildfire is still under the management of DFPA.

Website: www.dfpa.net

Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/DouglasForestProtectiveAssociation/

The Thielsen Fire, near Diamond Lake is being managed by the USFS.

Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/umpqua

Local Updates: At this time, please continue to monitor the Douglas Forest Protective Association Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DouglasForestProtectiveAssociation/

for a complete list of local wildfire updates.

ODOT ROAD CLOSURE:
The North Umpqua Highway – Oregon Highway 138 East remains closed from the west end of Glide (Little River Road intersection, MP 17 at the Green Bridge) to the Oregon Hwy 230 (West Diamond Lake Highway, MP 83) junction. Only local traffic and emergency service vehicles will be allowed through. For the latest road and weather condition updates, visit https://www.tripcheck.com.

DOUGLAS COUNTY RESOURCE HOTLINE: (541) 464-6550:

Douglas County Commissioners and Douglas Public Health Network have added a resource and referral service to the current COVID-19 hotline for Douglas County residents.  The added service will help residents get connected to resources and services due to the local wildfires.  Referral and resource information will be available about local emergency shelters, livestock and animal boarding options, donation locations, volunteer opportunities, welfare check referrals, food and water resources and help with health and wellness questions.  This is NOT the hotline for Fire Updates or Evacuation information.  Please contact or follow DFPA and DCSO for the most up-to-date wildfire information.  The Resource/COVID-19 Hotline is (541) 464-6550.  It is staffed from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm, 7 days a week until further notice. 

DONATIONS FOR WILDFIRE VICTIMS

Locally, the Greater Douglas United Way is working with the Salvation Army and American Red Cross to accept both monetary and physical donations. Greater Douglas United Way has set up a Fire Relief Fund.  Monetary donations can be taken to their office at 702 SE Jackson Street or by logging onto their website at: https://gduway.org/campaigns/fire-relief-fund/. All donations will be donated directly to local Red Cross and Salvation Army wildfire efforts.  Physical donations (bottled water/sealed food items/clothing/necessities) can be dropped off at either the Greater Douglas United Way office at 702 SE Jackson Street or to the Salvation Army at 3130 NE Stephens Street. For additional questions regarding donations, you can reach the Salvation Army at (541) 672-6581 or the Greater Douglas United Way at (541) 672-1734.   There are a number of other private and faith based organizations that are offering meals and accepting donations as well.

AIR QUALITY ALERT: AIR POLLUTION ADVISORY

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has issued an Air Pollution Advisory that will be in effect until at least 5:00 pm on Thursday, September 10, 2020 for Douglas County and most of central and southern Oregon.  Wildfires burning in the region combined with forecast conditions will cause air quality levels to fluctuate and could be at unhealthy levels.  For additional information, please visit their web site at http://www.oregon.gov/deq.  Our current air quality index is at 396. Click here for air quality index information.