Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan reports that signs of smoke in the air east of Sweet Home caused area residents to call Linn County 9-1-1 at approximately 1800 hours this evening. Upon investigating, crews from the Sweet Home Fire District, Oregon Department of Forestry and Cascade Timber Consulting located a small two acre fire, smoldering in an area approximately 1 mile south from the end of Harris Road, off Whiskey Butte Drive.
Due to the steep terrain and remote location of the fire, and as a precaution to area residents, a LEVEL 1: BE READY Evacuation Notice is activated beginning at the intersection of Highway 20 at Whiskey Butte Drive, traversing along Whiskey Butte Drive to Cedar Creek Road, and extending south to Wiley Creek Road. Then, from the intersection of Cedar Creek Road and Wiley Creek Road, east along the south boundary of the Willamette National Forest area to Swamp Mountain Road, and along Swamp Mountain Road north to Highway 20. View the attached maps, and visit the Linn County Wildfire Map for more details.
The public is asked to avoid the area, so emergency crews are able to respond more quickly.
The Sheriff has also ordered the Emergency Operations Center activated, to closely monitor the fires, and be prepared to alert residents nearby, should the situation change and further evacuation notifications become necessary.
If you live in Linn County, or Benton County, please sign up for Linn-Benton ALERT so you are registered in our system to receive emergency notifications through EverBridge. Visit:https://www.linnsheriff.org/community-resources/emergency-preparedness/ to sign up.