Archie Creek Fire Evening Update: Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020

Fire activity picked up Wednesday evening along the southeastern portion of the Archie Creek Fire. In the Little River area, the fire was most active near E-mile Creek. Structure protection resources remain in place along Little River Road. On the far eastern portion of the fire, crews are working to hold the fire in the Panther Creek drainage. North of Highway 138E in the Steamboat area, firefighters are working to keep the fire west of Canton Creek Road. Minimal fire activity was reported around the remainder of the fire. Contract crews and National Guard crews continue mopping up hot spots near both containment lines and structures in these areas. Air resources were grounded again today due to safety concerns presented by the thick smoke. Four helicopters and two Single Engine Air Tankers remain available in the area for use when the smoke clears. A frontal boundary pushing onto the coast will move into the area tonight and is expected to stall over the region through Thursday morning. This system is expected to bring increased relative humidity recoveries to lower elevations with very dense fog possible. Thursday, smoke is likely to thin and showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop in the late afternoon to evening timeframe. Gusty winds, small hail and heavy rainfall rates are possible. Prior to the arrival of moisture in the area, strong westerly winds have the potential to lift the smoke cap and increase the fire activity along the southern and eastern flanks of the fire. Highway 138E remains closed to all non-fire traffic from Milepost 21 through Milepost 83. Crews from the Oregon Department of Transportation, Douglas County Public Works Department, Pacific Power and their contractors continue to work along Highway 138E, Rock Creek Road and other county maintained roads within the footprint of the Archie Creek Fire. The Archie Creek Fire has burned 128,020 acres and is 20% contained. There are currently 1,029 personnel assigned to this incident. The breakdown of acres by ownership include: • 63,043 acres of Private lands • 38,723 acres of BLM lands • 26,214 acres of USFS lands • 39 acres of State of Oregon lands