Lane County SO issues Level 1 evacuation notice north of Hwy. 126; Level 3 evacuation closes part of Pacific Crest Trail

McKENZIE BRIDGE, Ore. (KTVZ) – The Lane County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday night issued a Level 1 GET READY evacuation notice for an area north of state Highway 126 due to a nearby wildfire, one day after a fire in the Three Sisters Wilderness Area prompted a Level 3 GO NOW evacuation and closed a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail.

The Level 1 notice prompted by the 80-acre Boulder Fire affected areas north of the McKenzie Highway, from the east end of Drury Lane east to the Old Clear Lake Cutoff Loop, the sheriff's office said on its Facebook page.

On Saturday night, the sheriff’s office issued the Level 3 evacuation for the Pacific Crest Trail and nearby areas near Linton Meadow and Husband Lake due to the lightning-caused Linton Creek Fire, estimated at 600 acres Sunday.

The Pacific Crest Trail Association said the fire was burning west of the PCT and prompted closure of a 24-mile segment of the trail from Highway 242 to the junction with the Pacific Crest Trail.

They also said the Backside Fire burning west of Mt. Bachelor would affect hikers leaving the PCT using the Wickiup Plains Trail, since the Devil’s Lake area was evacuated.

--

Willamette NF issues closure order for Linton Creek Fire

Level 3 evacuation order issued as portion of Pacific Crest Trail closes

Springfield, Ore. – Sept. 8, 2024 – The Willamette National Forest has issued an emergency closure order for the Linton Creek Fire, which was reported Sept. 6, 2024. The closure order, which is for public and firefighter safety, is effective from Sept. 8, 2024, through Jan. 1, 2025, unless rescinded or modified sooner. 

The lightning-sparked Linton Creek Fire, located on the McKenzie River Ranger District, is approximately 600 acres in size with 0% containment. The fire is part of the North Willamette Complex Fires managed by California Interagency Incident Command Team 13.

The Lane County Sheriff’s Office has issued a Level 3 (Go Now) evacuation notice that includes the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) near Linton Meadow and Husband Lake. Level 3 means leave immediately! Do NOT take time to gather things. GO NOW! Linton Creek Fire - Lane County (lanecountyor.gov)

This fire is burning west of the PCT near mile 197 and is actively growing around the Linton Meadows/Eileen Lake area, west of the Three Sisters Wilderness. The PCT is closed between Highway 242 (mile 1985.3) and the junction with the Wickiup Plains Trail (mile 1961). Search and rescue teams are sweeping the area and ask the public to evacuate safely. PCT recreationists, both day hikers and through hikers, should check for emergency updates and re-routes. Linton Creek Fire | Pacific Crest Trail Closures (pcta.org)

This closure area includes the following trailheads: PCT - McKenzie Pass, Linton Lake, Hank Lake Cutoff, Obsidian Stock, Proxy Falls, Separation Lake-Louise Creek, Foley Ridge, Rainbow Falls, and Horse Creek.

The fire closure starts at the intersection of Highway 242 and the PCT at McKenzie Pass, following to the Lane County/Deschutes Boundary Line (near Yapoah Crater), continuing south to the Willamette National Forest Trail (FST) #3527 (Nash Lake Trail), to (Horse Creek Trail), to the junction of FST #3514 and the Three Sisters Wilderness Boundary to Highway 242.

For the complete list of recreation sites and roads included in the Linton Creek Fire closure order, visit our website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/willamette/alerts-notices.

Please be aware of current restrictions before you head out into the forest and share information with others. As fire restrictions change, information will be available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/willamette/fire.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @WillametteNF for updates. To report a wildfire, call 9-1-1.