Click here for the latest details on the ongoing fight against the fire in Beavercreek that has launched Level 1 and Level 2 evacuation notices. Previous coverage below:
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A brushfire near Beavercreek rivaling the size of the McIver State Park fire of last summer initiated evacuation orders Thursday afternoon as crews continue to battle the flames.
Crews say anyone living within a quarter mile radius of the fire is under a level two evacuation order, and anyone living within a half mile radius is under a level one order.
At level one, residents should “Be Ready” by preparing and staying informed. Meanwhile, residents in the level two range should “Be Set,” meaning they should be ready to evacuate with little notice.
The fire is 30 acres and remains 0% contained, but Clackamas Fire crews and the Oregon Department of Forestry say the fire is not growing.
The blaze comes as the region heads into increased fire risk due to 18th days of dry conditions. Izak Hamilton, a Clackamas Fire spokesperson, told KOIN 6 the blaze is not the only one their crews responded to today, but it is the largest.
“Today we actually had a couple of calls for some brush fires that were getting a little bit out of control,” Hamilton said. “This is the second one, and as you can see with all the resources we have around us, it grew faster than we were expecting it to grow.”
Hamilton said the brushfire broke out in the area of upper Highland and lower Highland Road, and has since grown to the size of the McIver State Park fire of 2022.
“We have absolutely some great resources for jumping on top of wildfires, which we have experienced in the last few years,” Hamilton said. “The Oregon Department of Forestry is here, and they’re our number one partner for getting air resources,…hand crews, and other resources available just to get a jump on this.”
Hamilton said that with quick response, added resources and the past three years of wildfire experience, their crews are feeling well equipped.
“This is something that we’re not going to get rid of anytime soon. And so with every season that comes we try to be more and more prepared, and this time, not that you can ever be perfectly prepared, but we feel pretty good about this one,” he said.
Clackamas Fire says they are not sure what sparked the blaze, but do say fire investigators are actively investigating.
The KOIN 6 meteorological team says the Beavercreek fire shows that even when the fire potential is minimal, a wildfire can still start and spread.
Fire threats are expected to increase to “normal” levels in western Washington and west central Oregon later this weekend.
Stay with KOIN 6 as this story develops.