SILVER FALLS STATE PARK, Ore. – Oregon Department of Forestry aerial and ground resources are continuing their attack on the Silver Creek Fire this morning, with continuing close collaboration from the local Drakes Crossing Rural Fire Protection District and hand crews from the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility.
The fire’s size is estimated to be 12 acres this morning. The cause is under investigation. The fire is located in the southeast corner of Silver Falls State Park in steep, heavily timbered terrain far from roads and trails. This has made accessing the fire challenging for ground forces, who have had to clear a path to reach the fire, according to Incident Commander Brent O’Nion from ODF’s Forest Grove Unit.
The fire’s Incident Commander Brent O’Nion with ODF said this morning that, “Because the fire is in steep, heavily timbered terrain in a section of the park away from roads and trails, getting ground crews up to the fire has been challenging. Firefighter safety is a concern and our number one priority right now as we battle this blaze.”
ODF’s North Cascade District and Drakes Crossing firefighters responded to the initial report of fire Thursday night and searched until 1 a.m. trying to locate the fire but could not find any smoke column. The search resumed at daybreak Friday morning when the fire – Oregon State Parks fire closures web page.estimated at less than an acre – was finally located beneath thick timber.
Once the fire’s position was known, ODF rapidly called in air resources to help slow the fire’s spread.
“We had solid initial attack on the fire from the air yesterday, with response from a helicopter, single-engine airtankers and large airtankers,” said O’Nion. “That gave our firefighters time to work their way toward the fire so they could begin engaging on it.”
O’Nion lauded the continuing close collaboration on the fire with local firefighers and Oregon State Parks personnel.
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| Above: ODF Aviation Manger Neal Laugle at a briefing discusses strategy on the Silver Creek Fire with ODF fire team and local cooperators. |
Silver Falls State Park is a popular summer destination in Marion County. Oregon State Parks has closed to the public the Howard Creek Horse Campground within the park so it can be used as the staging area for firefighting operations. Camp Silver Creek (also known as Y Camp) about a mile from the fire’s location was evacuated yesterday and remains closed.
Oregon State Parks is reporting that also closed are all back-country trails on the east side of the park, The Ranches, and 214 Trailhead. The rest of the park and events there are unaffected and remain open but visitors are cautioned to be alert to firefighting activity and traffic. For the latest on park and trail closures check Oregon State Park’s fire closures web page.