PORTLAND — A storm system is poised to bring rain showers to parts of Oregon over the next two days, helping clear out wildfire smoke. But the change in weather has prompted a pair of new concerns: thunderstorms and flash flooding.
The National Weather Service’s Portland office said severe thunderstorms and flash flooding appear possible Thursday evening. Flash flood watches cover a swath of land extending through parts of Hood River, Clackamas, Multnomah, Marion, Linn and Lane counties from Thursday afternoon through late that night.
Heavy rains are possible across parts of the Cascades. The rain may cause flash flooding and debris flows in the Riverside, Beachie Creek, Lionshead and Holiday Farm fire areas.
The weather service said people, structures and roads below steep slopes, in canyons and near the mouths of canyons may be at serious risk from fast-moving flash floods and debris flows.
Lightning can also start new fires.
Blazes throughout Oregon have killed eight people, left 12 more missing, burned about 1 million acres and destroyed 1,616 homes, authorities said Wednesday.
Here is the latest on the fires. This report will be updated throughout the day Thursday.
Marion County fires
As the Beachie Creek fire continues to burn in Marion County and scores of residents remain evacuated from their homes in Santiam River canyon, officials warned Wednesday that many areas remain unsafe.
The Beachie Creek fire has scorched more than 191,000 acres and is 20% contained. Detroit, Idanha, Gates and several smaller towns remain evacuated.
County officials at a Board of Commissioners meeting on Wednesday ran down a daunting list of what needs to happen before residents can return.
As many as 100,000 trees, possibly more, may need to be removed along Oregon 22 and some side roads before the burned areas will be accessible, according to state transportation officials. Marion County Sheriff Joe Kast said he drove up the canyon recently and much of the area is still unsafe due to fallen trees, rocks and the danger of landslides.
Marion County Public Works Director Brian Nicholas said many utilities in the canyon had suffered “extensive loss” and that, while some areas have spotty cellphone service, service to nearly all land lines has been interrupted and most places had lost their power lines. Water service in Detroit and Gates has been completely knocked out, Nicholas said, though it appeared to be intact in Lyons.
The Lionshead fire has also grown to 189,316 acres and remains 10% contained.
Clackamas County
Firefighters have made progress on the 135,974-acre Riverside fire, which is now 6% contained — a figure that has doubled since Wednesday.
Oregon City, Canby and Sandy had all evacuation orders lifted Wednesday. Mollala was downgraded to a Level 1 “get ready” order, as well.
Conditions in Estacada also improved, with evacuation orders dropped to Level 2 “get set.”
The areas near the Dowty, Unger and Riverside fires remained under Level 3 “go” evacuation orders and Mt. Hood National Forest was still closed.
Lane County
State officials on Wednesday said more than 500 homes and other buildings have been destroyed by the Holiday Farm fire, which swept through rural communities along the McKenzie River east of Eugene and Springfield.
Crews have so far assessed 770 structures in the burn area of the blaze, whose 260-mile perimeter, roughly the length of Portland to Medford, stretches into Lane and Linn counties.
Firefighters have contained 10% of the 170,637-acre blaze.
Lake County
The Brattain Fire has grown 5,300 acres to a total of 44,800 acres. It’s now 20% contained.
Paisley, population 270, is among the areas under a mandatory evacuation order.
Douglas County
The Archie Creek fire east of Roseburg has grown over 2,500 acres to a total of 128,020 acres. It remains 20% contained.
Meanwhile, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday night reissued a Level 3 evacuation notice for residents of Little River Road between New Bridge Road and the end of Little River Road, including all side roads between those points.
The Thielsen fire near Diamond Lake has grown nearly 870 acres to a cumulative 8,645 acres. It’s still 1% contained.
Jackson County
The South Obenchain fire near Medford has grown less than 800 acres. It now covers 32,814 acres and is 25% contained.
Josephine County
The Slater fire, which burned into Oregon from northern California, now covers 141,403 acres and remains 10% contained.
Klamath County
Firefighters have increased containment of the 14,473-acre Two Four Two fire at Chiloquin to 29%.
Lincoln County
Firefighters on Wednesday were working to mop up and secure the 2,552-acre Echo Mountain Complex, which is now 45% contained.
The Oregon Department of Transportation has also reopened a stretch of Oregon 18 that was previously closed. The highway heads inland from U.S. 101 near Lincoln City.
NEWS UPDATES
Wednesday: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that those affected by Oregon’s wildfires can apply for federal disaster assistance. FEMA’s individual assistance program is now available to residents of Clackamas, Douglas, Jackson, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln and Marion counties.
Assistance includes grants for temporary housing and home repairs and low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses. To apply for the program, visit DisasterAssistance.gov or call 1-800-621-3362 (FEMA) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for people with speech and hearing disabilities.
