Autumn's onset welcomed

BLUE RIVER: Rain showers provided some welcome relief on Sunday by reducing fire activity. The wetting rainfall helped remove danger levels in areas east of McKenzie Bridge that had been at Level 1. While Hwy. 242 remains closed to traffic, one lane of Hwy. 126 is open to traffic following a pilot vehicle, east of its intersection with the Old McKenzie Hwy.

In that area, the 511-acre Boulder Creek Fire remained 0 percent contained while crews dealt with fire-weakened trees along the highway corridor to reduce the risk of trees falling into the roadway.

The 3,475-acre Ore Fire, located 7 miles northeast of Blue River, is now reported to be 76% contained. Crews are continuing to chip and remove combustible material below the Forest Service Road 1509. Officials report minimal fire activity has been observed, with smoldering and smoke along the northern side.

Located in the Three Sisters Wilderness northeast of Eileen Lake, the 1,301-acre Linton Creek Fire remains 0 percent contained. Heat remains a concern in larger-diameter trees. Crews there will continue to work on improving trails to use as fire lines and prioritizing the Pacific Crest Trail.

East of the Middle Santiam Wilderness, the Pyramid Fire, which encompasses 1,311 Acres, is 98 percent contained. Work there continues to improve containment lines while reducing burnable fuels through mechanized mastication and chipping.

In the Three Sisters Wilderness, northwest of Packsaddle Mountain, the 58-acre 374 Fire is 0 percent contained. There, Smokejumpers have been working on extinguishing areas of heat and using the existing trail network as containment lines.

Finally, at less than one acre, the Roundtop Fire, near the 374 Fire and Little Roundtop Mountain, is 100 percent contained.