Priceboro Fire near Harrisburg at 35% containment; Level 3 evacuations lifted

Firefighters have partially contained a wildfire north of Mount Tom and downgraded the evacuation levels, according to the Linn County Sheriff’s Office.
Published: Aug. 4, 2023 at 5:52 PM PDT|Updated: Aug. 5, 2023 at 5:30 PM PDT

MOUNT TOM, Ore. (KPTV) - Firefighters have partially contained a wildfire north of Mount Tom and have downgraded the evacuation levels as of Saturday evening, according to the Linn County Sheriff’s Office.

As of 5 p.m., the Level 3: Go Now evacuation area on Mt. Tom Drive, including properties on all sides beginning at 33496 Mt. Tom Drive, east to include Wildwood Estates Loop and south from 33496 Mt. Tom Drive to the Linn-Lane County Line have been downgraded to Level 2: Be Set.

According to the sheriff’s office, Level 2 notices mean there is still a significant danger in the area, and while people may return to their homes, they should still be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice should the circumstance change. Additionally, fire crews and heavy equipment are still actively on the roadways and in the area. Travel safely and cautiously on roadways, and pull over or stop as emergency crews pass by.

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Areas previously on a Level 2 notice have also been downgraded to a Level 1: Be Ready warning. Those include the area of Mt. Tom Drive from the west boundary of 33496 Mt. Tom Drive, west to Interstate 5 and south to the Linn-Lane County Line

The Priceboro Fire started about 4 p.m. Friday and rapidly grew eight miles northeast of Eugene. As of 9:30 a.m. Sunday, the fire had burned 250 acres and was at 35% containment according to the Oregon Department of Forestry, allowing firefighters to downgrade the evacuation orders.

Approximately 60 homes were evacuated and ODF said a portion of the fire was stopped a quarter mile from a subdivision. Crews saved a cabin near the fire by burning out the grass and brush around the property.

On Saturday, more ODF resources and private contractors will arrive to help fight the fire. They will focus on holding and improving established containment lines.

A shelter for evacuated residents is open at the Linn County Fair & Expo on Knox Butte Road East in Albany.

More information on locations evacuating can be found on the Linn County Sheriff’s Facebook.