The Riverside Fire, which is the fire currently burning southeast of Estacada and east of Molalla. The northwest edge of the fire is about 30 miles southeast of Portland. It is at 135,000 acres at this point. There are now 385 personnel assigned to the fire, including dozens of engines and bulldozers.
The largest wildfire in Oregon right now, the combined Beachie Creek/Lionshead fire, is at one hundred eighty eight thousand acres, with over five hundred firefighters working on it, and seven aircraft. The fire is burning mainly in Marion County, southeast of Silverton.
The Beachie Creek Fire and the Riverside Fire remain about one mile apart. Officials from nearby fires are coordinating strategies to minimize fire growth and stabilize incidents. The combination of winds, record dry forests, and a lack of natural holding features in the Table Rock Wilderness and surrounding areas mean it is still possible the fires could burn together.
Rain is forecast for tonight or tomorrow, which would greatly help the firefighting efforts throughout the state.
Air quality remains at hazardous levels throughout the Portland metro area - averaging around 330 parts per million of air pollutants. This is a significant improvement from yesterday's average of 550.
Multnomah county officials have urged residents to stay inside as much as possible, and area schools have been cancelled.
Free lunch pickups for students have also been cancelled for today and tomorrow.
A mutual aid group that sprang out of the Portland protest movement this summer has set up a mutual aid support center across from Holladay Park at the Lloyd center. The focus is on evacuees, but they have food, water and household items available for anyone in need.
- KBOO