Brookings under pre-evacuation notice as wildfire rages

BROOKINGS, Ore. (AP) – A growing blaze in southwest Oregon has prompted officials to issue a warning for Brookings residents to be ready to leave.
 
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports (https://goo.gl/AaAVjB ) officials issued the Level 1 notice Thursday afternoon for the coastal community of about 6,500 residents. Unincorporated areas not already under evacuation notices are also included in the warning.
 
Officials say the Chetco Bar Fire was started by lightning in the in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest July 12 and is about five miles northeast of Brookings near the California border.
 
The fire has scorched over 102,000 acres (156 square miles) and is zero percent contained.
 
The fire was listed as the top firefighting priority in the nation Tuesday.
 
Gov. Kate Brown announced a mobilization of an additional 125 Oregon National Guard resources to start Thursday. Nearly 1,400 firefighters are battling the blaze.
 
More than 1,700 homes are threatened by the fire and six have been burned. Close to 30 other buildings have been damaged.

More information on this and other large Oregon fires can be found at: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/state/38/