Fire crews prepare for windy afternoon in Canyon Creek

JOHN DAY — Firefighters on the Canyon Creek Complex near John Day are preparing for more afternoon winds Wednesday as they work to protect houses and private lands.

The fire is estimated at 48,201 acres as of Wednesday morning, according to a press release from the Oregon State fire marshal, and is the number one priority nationally with about 649 personnel currently assigned to the incident.

On Tuesday, firefighters set hose lines in the northeast corner of the fire as a contingency should winds shift and again push the blaze toward homes located there. The fire moved toward a main powerline in the Vance Creek area that is a priority resource to protect, and also backed into the Canyon Creek area, where firefighters successfully defended homes.

Along with those areas, crews on Wednesday will focus on the Wickiup Campground and Road 3925 on the south side of the fire and the Fall Mountain area to the west.

Oregon Department of Transportation crews will continue to work along the Highway 395 corridor removing hazardous trees and material on or near the roadway. Due to successful work on the north end of the fire, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office decreased evacuation levels from Level 3 to Level 2 in some areas on the north end of the Canyon Creek Complex fire Tuesday. The areas reduced to Level 2 are: Adam Marysville, Eagle Peak Gardner Ranch, Pineview Buckhorn, Edgewood Little Pine.

Marysville from Highway 395 to Dog Creek and the junction of Highway 26 is closed to through traffic. Only homeowners will be able to access that portion of the road. Homeowners on the lower Little Canyon Mountain Trail area can also access their homes.

Areas remaining at Level 3:

• South from Dog Creek to Little Dog Creek will stay closed and under a Level 3 evacuations

• Upper end of Pine Creek from the road closure near the rock pit will remain under a Level 3 evacuation.

• Canyon Creek, from the fire perimeter north at Canyon City, south to the 15, 16 junction will remain under a Level 3 evacuation.

An American Red Cross shelter has been established at the Mt. Vernon Community Center at 640 Ingle Street. The Red Cross is providing financial and relief services for displaced residents. Those wishing to make monetary donations can contact the American Red Cross Mountain River Chapter at redcross.org/cascades or in person at the shelter located on Ingle Street in Mt. Vernon. The Red Cross is opening a service center at the LDS Church in John Day from 1-4 p.m.

An emergency fire closure is in effect in the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness area. A copy of the closure order and map is available at inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4495/ Forest Service personnel have assisted with escorting campers and other recreationalists out high-use areas, coordinating with Grant County Sheriff’s Office and other local agencies to facilitate the closure.