September 17, 2023 – Camp Creek Fire Update
Size: 2,055 acres
Containment: 51%
Total personnel: 423
Current Situation: Firefighters have been successful establishing containment lines to hold the fire within the existing footprint. There has been little to no growth of the fire in the last week and fire activity is generally creeping and smoldering in place. Smoke was visible again yesterday from some areas along the Highway 26 corridor. The smoke was largely due to burning well within the interior of the fire perimeter and did not threaten established containment lines. Smoke may be visible again today as the heavy fuels in those interior islands burn out.
Today’s Activities: Today fire crews will continue working to secure firelines to keep the Camp Creek fire as small as possible and protect communities and the Bull Run watershed. They will continue holding the fire within established containment lines to the northwest, west, and southwest edge of the fire. Mop up will continue where needed to cool remaining hotspots and secure the fireline. While much of the chipping of vegetation debris has been completed, crews will continue hauling away additional debris created from fireline preparation. Along the eastern edge of the fire, there continues to be limited fire activity and little to no growth. Aviation resources will also provide reconnaissance support and are available to deliver water to support operational needs. Fire crews are beginning to remove excess equipment such as fire hose from contained portions of the fire.
Pop-up information briefings: Representatives of the Incident Management Team will be available again today to provide fire information and answer questions at two different “pop-up” information briefings. They will be at the Hoodland Thriftway in Welches, OR, from 1 – 4 p.m. and Jonsrud Viewpoint, from 1 – 4 p.m.
Weather: Today will continue to be warm and dry, though cooler and more moist air will start to arrive late in the afternoon. Cooler conditions will continue into the beginning of the week. Less smoke production is anticipated today with the shift to cooler, more moist, conditions.
Smoke: Current smoke outlook: https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlook/2c7a8f9b
Closures: Barlow Wayside Park and the Sandy Ridge Recreation Site are temporarily closed due to fire activity. Clackamas County residents can sign up at https://www.clackamas.us/dm/publicalerts to receive emergency alerts via email, phone, or text.
Restrictions: A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is issued over the fire area. It is illegal for the public to fly drones over or near wildfires because of the potential for accidents and disruption of suppression operations. Regardless of the fire, aircraft is not permitted to fly over the Bull Run watershed.