Photo: Marion County Sheriff's Office
Strong winds have caused a wildfire to explode threatening Santiam Canyon from Idanha to Mehama.
The Marion County Sheriff's Office has issued a Level 3 Go evacuation from the area west of the Mehama community to Cascade Highway SE and north to Highway 214. Deputies have reported fire as far west as Jennie Road SE. Residents should continue to monitor for updated evacuation information as the fire progresses.
Sheriff Joe Kast said, “We care deeply about the safety of all of our community members. The extreme fire activity in the area poses an imminent danger to anyone who chooses to remain in the evacuated area. Our deputies are committed to helping keep our community safe; however, conditions have become too dangerous for them to continue with evacuation efforts at this time. I encourage anyone still in the Santiam Canyon to leave immediately following the deputies out of the area. I cannot say when the conditions will allow deputies and other emergency responders to return to the area to render assistance. Please leave now.”
Marion County Emergency Management has coordinated with the American Red Cross to open an evacuation staging area at the Oregon State Fairgrounds, located at 2330 17th St NE, Salem, Oregon. A second evacuation staging area was established at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds. An information line has been established at 503-391-7294.