Firefighters are making significant headway in containing the 250-acre Priceboro Fire, which started on Friday, August 4, 2023, eight miles northeast of Eugene, outside of Harrisburg. As of today, crews have managed to line the fire with dozer and handline, effectively creating a control line, and have pushed containment to 35%.
“We are pleased with the progress we’ve made so far. Our lines held through the night, and that’s a huge success from where we were sitting just a day ago,” stated Incident Commander Jeb Schumacher. He also highlighted that today’s efforts will focus on plumbing and heavy mop-up to strengthen the lines and ensure the fire remains under control.
During the mop-up operations, firefighters venture into the burned areas to remove unburnt vegetation and extinguish hot spots to consider that section of the perimeter contained. Their dedication and hard work have resulted in the recent downgrading of some evacuation levels, providing much-needed relief to affected communities.
Suppression efforts are being expertly managed by a Type-3 incident team and the Oregon Department of Forestry’s South Cascade District. The combined force consists of 225 firefighters from various agencies, including ODF, local fire districts, protective associations, forest landowners, and private contractors.
To provide a more accurate assessment of the fire’s perimeter, firefighters plan to use handheld GPS to map the area today. This updated acreage will be included in the evening update, and authorities anticipate that the current acreage may change as a result.
As the fire continues to be closely monitored, the cause of the Priceboro Fire remains under investigation. The public is urged to stay informed and expect to see aircraft and smoke above the affected area in the coming days.
You can track this fire through our 2023 Wildfire Season partner’s Wildfire Aware app.
Source: OSFM
