Level I evacuation boundary expanded at Wiley Creek Fire

Linn County Sheriff's Office

Sweet Home - Wiley Fire Update: August 9, 2023 at 8:00 p.m.

LEVEL 1: BE READY Evacuation Zone added for Wiley Fire

Sheriff Michelle Duncan reports that air assets and ground crews aggressively fought the Wiley Fire burning east of Sweet Home today. The fire grew by approximately 15 acres, and is now estimated at 165 acres, with zero percent containment. Bulldozer crews and ground crews were able to cut in a heavy dozer line south and west of the fire, while water and fire retardant air assets knocked down fire advancement occurring to the north and west.

In coordination with Wiley Fire Incident Command, and out of an abundance of caution given the forecasted high temperatures and uncertain wind conditions over the next several days, Sheriff Michelle Duncan is enacting a LEVEL 1: BE READY Evacuation Notice for a large area around the existing LEVEL 2: BE SET Evacuation zone. The specific properties within the LEVEL 1: BE READY Evacuation zone can be found by viewing the attached maps, and by visiting the Linn County Wildfire Map for more details https://tinyurl.com/LinnWileyFire . Residents are encouraged to search for their address at the Wildfire Map website to determine if they are within an evacuation alert zone.

Please take this LEVEL 1: BE READY warning seriously, and ensure you have a plan, be aware and stay informed. For more details on how you can be ready and prepared under a LEVEL 1 warning notification, see the included image.

Linn County Riverbend Park, and Cascadia County Park (managed by Linn County Parks & Recreation) is within the LEVEL 1: BE READY zone. Both parks remain open and available for use. Park visitors are asked to be aware and stay informed. More information on Linn County Parks & Recreation can be found on their Facebook page.

REMINDERS:

Any residents currently within the LEVEL 2: BE SET evacuation area who choose to evacuate the area on their own, including livestock on their property, are able to utilize the Linn County Fair & Expo Center. Residents needing shelter for themselves or their animals are asked to call (541) 812-9211 before going to the Linn County Fair & Expo Center.

Green Peter Reservoir has been ordered closed to all boating, to allow for USFS Scooper planes to take on water. Sheriff’s Deputies and Linn County Parks staff have closed all boat ramps. The Oregon State Marine Board has enacted a temporary order, which closes Green Peter Reservoir to all boating through August 25, 2023, or until the need for the closure no longer exists.

Residents within the newly enacted LEVEL 1: BE READY Evacuation area are being contacted via Linn-Benton ALERT. At this time, no other alerts are being sent to residents in any other areas of the county.

All residents in Linn and Benton County are encouraged to sign up for Linn-Benton ALERT so you are registered in our system to receive emergency notifications through EverBridge. Visit: tinyurl.com/LB-ALERT to sign up.

Regular updates from the Linn County Sheriff’s Office are scheduled morning and evening, unless circumstances change and other notifications become necessary. Residents should follow the Linn County Sheriff’s Office Facebook for updates. Additionally, the Oregon Department of Forestry - South Cascade and the U.S. Forest Service - Willamette National Forest.