Two wildfires that devastated large swaths of Clackamas, Marion and Linn counties are now a combined two-thirds contained, fire officials reported Sunday morning.
The Riverside Fire, which has burned more than 138,000 acres in Clackamas County, is a reported 61% contained. Beachie Creek, which has destroyed almost 200,000 acres, is 71% contained.
Both fires have more than 200 personnel assigned to them, far below peak levels in early to mid-September, when both conflagrations were raging and prompted thousands of residents to flee their homes.
At Riverside, firefighters are continuing fire suppression repairs as needed and patrolling and monitoring the fire line is. At Beachie Creek, the area is too wet for mechanical equipment, so hand crews and engines are continuing repair work “where it is safe and appropriate to engage,” according to incident command.
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Firefighters will continue with fire suppression repairs as needed. Patrolling and monitoring of the fire line is ongoing. https://t.co/OxlHbttVUH
Showers are predicted to persist throughout Sunday, with rain amounts expected to total another inch in the fire areas. Ridgetops may receive wind speeds of 20 mph with gusts of 25 to 30 mph. Fire behavior is anticipated to be minimal due to the recent precipitation.
New resources will be deployed to Riverside this week to replace Canadian firefighters that returned home Sunday. Fire-weakened trees remain a concern with incoming winds and rain.
Crews on the ground will be watchful of possible landslides or erosion that might pose a safety hazard. The public is asked to be vigilant near any burned areas.
