Hot and dry weather conditions are expected to continue in the area of the Emigrant Fire, with fire officials anticipating increased intensity early Friday afternoon. The lightning-caused Emigrant Fire is located in a remote area three miles southwest of Indigo Springs Campground, 20 miles southeast of Oakridge. Minimal winds are expected to hit the area, with wind speeds between 5-10 mph. With weekend temperatures forecasted to dip about 10 degrees, firefighting conditions are expected to improve. But with hotter temperatures around the corner next week, fire officials anticipate an increase in fire behavior.
Smoke in the area is likely to decrease over the next few days for the Eastern Cascades and Willamette Valley, but communities like Oakridge are expected to continue to see smoke. For Friday’s operations, officials say fire resources will focus on creating a containment line wide enough to prevent the fire from spreading across Forest Service Road 21. Crews are also working to protect recreational infrastructure near the fire, including trails, bridges, and campgrounds. The Emigrant Fire has now burned an estimated 16,372 acres and is 0% contained.
