Sweet Home – Wiley Fire Update: August 8, 2023 at 10:00 p.m.
LEVEL 2: BE SET Evacuation Alert Activated
Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan reports that based on conversations with Fire Incident Command in charge of the Wiley Fire burning east of Sweet Home, the current LEVEL 1: BE READY Evacuation Level alert area is being elevated to a LEVEL 2: BE SET Evacuation Level.
LEVEL 2: BE SET Evacuation Alert is for the same area that was in a Level 1 from August 7, 2023. The specific properties and addresses within the LEVEL 2: BE SET Evacuation Alert zone can be found by viewing the attached maps, and visit the Linn County Wildfire Map for more details regarding evacuation zones. https://tinyurl.com/LinnWileyFire
LEVEL 2: BE SET to evacuate means there is significant danger in the area. Be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice. For more details, see the included image, or click this link: https://wildfire.oregon.gov/Documents/OEM_Evacuation_Flyer_En.png
On August 9, 2023 the US Forest Service will have numerous air assets to continue to battle the fire, including helicopters, very large fire retardant air tankers, and Scooper Planes. Those assets will operate over the Wiley Fire, and assist ground crews and bulldozer crews with battling the fire. Additionally, a Type 3 Fire Incident Management Team is taking over fire management, and coordinating efforts with the Linn County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management. The fire is approximately 1 mile south from the end of Harris Road, off Whiskey Butte Drive, east of Sweet Home and is approximately 100 acres in size.
The USFS Scooper Planes will again be pulling water out of Green Peter Reservoir. In order to ensure the safety of the planes and their pilots, as well as the boating public, Green Peter Reservoir has been ordered closed to all boating. Sheriff’s Deputies and Linn County Parks staff have closed all boat ramps. The closure is to last all day tomorrow. An update will be posted tomorrow evening (Aug. 9, 2023).
Residents within the LEVEL 2: BE SET Evacuation area are being contacted via Linn-Benton ALERT, and contacted by Linn County Sheriff’s Deputies that are going door-to-door. At this time, no other alerts are being sent to residents in any other areas of the county.
All residents in Linn and Benton County are encouraged to 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.
Residents should follow the Linn County Sheriff’s Office here for updates, as well as on our website at www.LinnSheriff.org
Additionally, residents may find other photos and updates by following the Oregon Department of Forestry – South Cascade and the U.S. Forest Service – Willamette National Forest