County cancels last of Holiday Farm Fire evacuation notices, 45% contained

The Holiday Farm Fire was declared 45% contained Saturday morning, according to an Oregon Department of Forestry news release. The fire’s size remained at 173,094 acres. On Friday afternoon, Lane County canceled all remaining evacuation notices for areas affected by the Holiday Farm Fire.

Hazard tree and debris removal will continue along Highway 126, but motor vehicle traffic will be allowed with a pilot car between mileposts 28 and 38. For more information regarding road closures and delays, check www.oregon.gov/odot/Pages/Wildfire.aspx or Tripcheck.com for road closure information.

Lingering showers will aid fire suppression today, but a turn to dry, warm weather is on the horizon, according to the ODF.

Light northwest winds will develop this afternoon and begin to dry out ridgetops throughout the fire area, incident meteorologist Tom Wright said. Warm east winds will return to the area Sunday as a warming trend starts with high temperatures in the low to mid 80s. Hot, dry and breezy conditions out of the northeast are expected to continue through Wednesday.

© Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard
A fire crew with R and R Contracting from Salem, Ore. works to build a fire line on steep terrain inside the Holiday Farm Fire as mop up operations continue Sept. 24, 2020.

Fire crews have had favorable weather the past three days allowing close access to the fire’s edge. Much of the line construction work remains on the east side of the fire with heavy mop-up taking place throughout, the agency said.

Fire suppression repair is also underway in many areas. Ground crews will begin placing water bars along bulldozer and hand lines to prevent erosion and water runoff into streams during the rainy season.

By the numbers, Saturday

Details about Holiday Farm Fire resources, as of Saturday, via the Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team:

• Estimated Size: 173,094 acres
• Containment: 45% (+10%)
• Cause: Unknown
• Personnel: 861 (-88)

Assigned Resources:

• Hand Crews: 24 (-3)
• Engines: 50 (-2)
• Dozers: 18
• Water Tenders: 18
• Other Heavy Equipment: 3
• Assigned Aircraft: 4 (-3)
• Structure Task Forces: 0
• Injuries: 6

Structures: 

• Destroyed residences: 431
• Destroyed non-residential commercial: 24

Local organizations band together to assist fire victims

Since Labor Day, the Holiday Farm Fire has burned more than 173,000 acres, 431 residences and a multitude of commercial buildings and structures. Though the fire remains one of the largest burning in Oregon, the breadth of collaborative effort is giving hope to communities trying to rise from the ashes.

Local organizations far and wide are giving in a number of ways. Following are just a few. (Readers who’d like to contribute more can email [email protected]) 

Suburban Propane Partners

Suburban Propane Partners, one of the nation’s leading propane distributors, responded to a request to support Eugene fire crews with propane gas to fuel mobile kitchens and showers. These units help to feed and care for the 1,000-plus dedicated crew members working to contain the fire. 

Suburban Propane felt a direct loss with 50 customers losing homes and possessions in the fire.

Read the full story here.

Lane County’s non-emergency call center hours change

Lane County’s non-emergency call center for those affected by the Holiday Farm Fire adjusted its hours to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. A decreasing call volume was cited as the reason for the adjustment.

Those with properties within the fire perimeter can call 541-682-3977 for information about their residences in the area, as well as to make other inquiries related to the fire.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Updates: County cancels last of Holiday Farm Fire evacuation notices, 45% contained