Photo: Oregon State Fire Marshal
The Marion County Sheriff's Office confirms the remains of four people who were killed in the Beachie Creek Fire have been located.
Search and rescue crews found human remains along with animal remains in a vehicle near the 26000 block of North Fork Road in the Santiam Canyon.
Search and rescue personnel with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office returned to the area, escorting investigators. While conducting the recover, the remains of another individual were located in the vehicle.
The Marion County Medical Examiner’s Office positively identified the two deceased people as 13-year-old, Wyatt Tofte of Lyons, Oregon and 71-year-old Peggy Mosso also of Lyons, Oregon.
Search and rescue teams continue their efforts to locate people who have been missing.
Searchers have located two additional victims of the fire. Due to treacherous conditions, recovery efforts will be underway once a safe plan can be put into place. Once the remains are identified, names will be released pending notification of next of kin.
As of Friday afternoon, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office has received a total of 27 missing persons reports since the beginning of the wildfires in the Santiam Canyon area.
Sheriff Joe Kast said, “At a time of great loss, the women and men of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office want to express their deepest condolences to those in our community who have lost loved ones and homes during these last few days”.
Friday evening, 13 of those reported as missing have been found and are safe. At this time, 10 people are still unaccounted for and 4 people have died during the Beachie Creek Fire in Marion County.