Three Rivers evacuation notice lowered to Level 1

(Update: Evacuation alert dropped to Level 1)

Another day of progress on the lines of the 2,143-acre Graham Fire near Lake Billy Chinook has lowered the evacuation notice for Three Rivers-area residents again, from Level 2 (get set to leave quickly) to Level 1 (be ready), Jefferson County officials said Sunday night.

Here’s an 8 p.m. update from Undersheriff Marc Heckathorn:

“Firefighters concluded another successful day in dealing with remaining hot spots and enhanced fire lines today on the Graham Fire near the Three Rivers subdivision.

“Thanks to their hard work, Sheriff (Jim) Adkins has ordered the Three Rivers community to reduce its evacuation level, going from a Level 2 evacuation notice (Get Set) to Level 1 (Be Ready).

“Firefighting efforts will continue into next week,” Heckathorn said. “No other areas are under any evacuation order at this time.”

The fire moved to 60 percent containment Sunday morning and the structural protection crews called in from other counties were being released to go home:

Here’s the 8:30 a.m. Sunday update from fire officials:

As fire suppression tactics have increased containment and lowered the risk to structures, the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s resources will be released around noon today. The Oregon Department of Forestry team will remain with local resources to continue mopping up and monitoring any remaining hot spots.

Resources on the fire Sunday included seven hand crews, six helicopters, 33 engines, 1 bulldozer, eight water tenders and 395 personnel. The estimated containment is 60 percent and size at 2,143 acres.

Sunday’s expected warmer temperatures and lower relative humidity may cause the fire to show more activity, officials said. Firefighters are seeing juniper trees torch in the interior of fire. Air attack resources are available Sunday to drop water on those trees if needed.

Lake Chinook Chief Don Colfels said, “Given the intensity of the fire and the strong winds driving it east, the fire had potential to leave dozens of families without a home today.

“Thanks to the work of our local crews, the support of other Central Oregon agencies and state support from ODF and OSFM, we were able to bring this fire to the more manageable state it is today. Additionally, because this community has worked hard to create defensible spaces, many homes have been completely burned around and left intact.”

A public meeting was held Sunday evening at the Chinook Store in Culver, for residents to learn more about the fire status, ongoing operations and what they can do to protect their homes and lands in the future.

For updated information: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5855/

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Earlier story:

A few long days and nights for hundreds of firefighters from near and far were paying off Saturday as the nearly 2,100-acre Graham Fire reached 50 percent containment and authorities ended an evacuation order for the Three Rivers subdivision in Jefferson County, two days after two homes and several outbuildings were lost to the wind–fanned flamed.

Mop-up operations were underway and Undersheriff Marc Heckathorn late in the afternoon announced a reduction in the evacuation level, from Level 3, calling on all to leave, to Level 2, meaning residents can return home but must remain ready to leave again at a moment’s notice.

Officials said firefighters were busy Saturday extinguishing hotspots around the fire perimeter. They focused on the first 50 feet Saturday and will work in another 50 feet Sunday. Higher temperatures and lower humidity are forecast in coming days and could make the fire more active, an evening update stated.

A NewsChannel 21 reporter visited the area Saturday and saw one house that was covered in fire retardant.

Vacation homeowner Steve Perry said he’s been visiting the area since 1971 and that this is the biggest fire that’s happened in the area in a long time — even after the 2002 Eyerly Fire that destroyed 18 homes in the area.

He said fire crews have been outstanding.

“These people, the firefighters, the coordination, it’s spectacular. You have all these communities coming together, and they’re all from different areas, but they all came in and did such a magnificent job,” Perry said. “It got pretty scary for a long time there.”

Before the evacuation order was lifted, Heckathorn expressed concern that residents were not heeding certain evacuation notices. Many residents chose to stay on their property, and it’s for their safety and firefighter safety that officials strongly urge residents to listen to evacuation orders.

“It was a quick-moving fire when it first started ,and we have gotten some rains so when the winds did pick up, the temperatures picked up (and) it moved very quickly in one burning period,” said Stacy Lacey, an Oregon Department of Forestry public information officer. “This fire is definitely winding down (but) we have over 300 personnel still on this fire.”

Because of the state Conflagration Act invoked by the governor, three structural task forces were mobilized to protect homes near the fire.

Sadly, two homes and five outbuildings were lost to the flames early on, but firefighters saved many others, officials said.

Public Information Officer Christiana Rainbow Plews said defensible space is a huge help to firefighters when it comes to keeping homes safe.

“It can be making sure there are no fuels against the house, making sure that decks over hanging have closed up the gaps where hot ash might get up and start a fire, roofs that are noncombustible roofs, (and) windows that are closed,” Plews said.

“The trees have been limbed and brushed so that trucks can get in and out and they’re not going to be latter fuels to make a bigger fire, if the fire makes a run at that property.”

Fire officials said they are holding a public meeting Sunday at 6 p.m. at the Chinook Village Store. Area residents can hear more from local officials about the fire situation and learn more about what they can do to protect their home and property.