When a controlled burn within the McKenzie River corridor broke perimeter on Tuesday evening, becoming a wildfire, it brought back some unwelcomed memories for area residents.

“Bad memories you know just seeing fire," says Blue River resident Jayson Kelso, "and everybody said it was going to be fine during the Holiday Farm Fire and the next thing you know it's something bigger than anybody expected it to be. I know that the firefighters have everything under control but then again just as shift of wind can push it back down river.”

What was planned to be a 60-acre control burn was hit by some late afternoon winds and broke perimeter through fire spots. At that point the fire was declared a wildfire which means the Forest Service can call and backup like Hotspot crews and a helicopter to help combat the blaze.

For the man in charge of the fire, David Warnack, those extra resources give him confidence that they'll be able to stop this fire.

“We continue to have people up on the hill right now as we speak suppressing this fire," Warnack, Forest Supervisor of the Willamette National Forest, says. "So, I feel fairly confident that with all these resources coming to bear that we should be able to put this fire out.”

Warnack has been in his position here since April of 2020 meaning he's seen the worst of what wildfires can do to the area.

He empathizes with people in the area, and he hopes that residents of this corridor continue to have faith in him to be the person who helps make sure this forest is as prepared for wildfires as it can possibly be.

“I want to do everything that we can," says Warnack, "not only put this fire out but to harden and strengthen our landscape and our communities to be better at living alongside this natural environment.”

At a little after 1:30 in the afternoon Wednesday the first helicopter crew made its way to the scene of the fire.

That helicopter is going to provide a very important resource to the firefighters on the ground as the terrain in the area of the fire is extraordinarily steep.

Warnack says that he and his crews will continue to fight this fire until it is completely out, something he is confident they will be able to achieve.