Clatsop County Wildfires Updates
Clatsop County has created this webpage to keep you informed on current wildfires in our community and will update it as needed.
We are placing the most current information on the top of the page and separating our updates by date.
FINAL Update: November 21, 2022 - 12:20 p.m.: Clatsop County Wildfires Update
This is the final wildfire update unless there are significant changes.
- 98 Delta — Approximately 250 acres. The fire stayed within the current footprint. Crews are working on completing firelines and doing mop-up. It is anticipated that the land will be turned back to the landowner by the end of the shift Tuesday, November 22.
- Park Fire — Approximately 110 acres. The fire is held within the current footprint and the landowner is monitoring it.
- Tillamook Head/Square Creek Fire — Approximately 80 acres. Rural fire departments and the landowner are holding the fire within the current footprint. The landowner is monitoring the incident.
- Green Gold — Approximately 30 acres. The landowner is controlling the fire and holding it within the current footprint. The area is being monitored and patrolled
- Middle Mabel -Turned back over to the landowner as of 6 a.m. this morning.
- The winds have died down significantly. They are at 0-5 miles an hour out of the east/northeast with an expected wind shift to southwest this afternoon.
- The level 3 evacuations were lifted yesterday.
- The Saddle Mountain County Road will remain closed to the public at the intersection of Wawa Mainline Road.
The type 3 team remains in place for 98 Delta. The Oregon Dept. of Forestry, rural fire departments, and landowners are all working well together, doing an excellent job and making great progress.
Neal Bond, incident commander for the 98 Delta fire said, “Thank you for all the help that we have received. It is much appreciated.”
For more information visit Clatsop County or ODF websites.
Private monitors are picking up unhealthy air quality for sensitive groups for Jeffers Garden and near the Astoria Airport. Air quality has returned to healthy levels for the Gearhart and Seaside areas.
At current unhealthy levels, AirNow.gov states that sensitive groups include people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teenagers.
At approximately 2:30 p.m. today, Oregon DEQ tweeted “fires in Clatsop County, Oregon may bring periods of heavy intermittent smoke to communities in the North Coast. East winds are forecasted to remain through the weekend.”
Wildfires
Good progress is being made on all fires, and containment lines continue to be established. The Oregon Department of Forestry, local landowners and fire departments are working together to control the fires prior to Thanksgiving.
The largest of the fires, the 98 Delta Fire about 10 miles east of Gearhart, is estimated at about 300 acres. A type 3 incident management team is in place, along with aerial resources, hand crews, a strike team of engines and excavators. Type 3 incidents means the fire exceeds the capability of local fire services and outside resources needed to be called in.
Several other small fires on state and private forestland are fully or mostly controlled, despite firefighters contending with 15-25 mph east winds with gusts up to 50 mph.
Wind conditions are expected to moderate Sunday, and there's the potential for rain early next week.
Based on that forecast, officials are hopeful that they'll be able to lift the Level 3 evacuations for the four homes at the end of Saddle Mountain County Road in the next couple of days.
Saddle Mountain County road remains closed to the public at the intersection of Wawa Mainline Road.
Active Wildfires
- 98 Delta — near Saddle Mountain Road
- A wildfire southwest of Saddle Mountain State Natural Area
- Infrared satellite imaging has detected a new fire east/northeast of 98 Delta
Controlled Wildfires
- Green Gold — by the border of Clatsop and Columbia Counties
- Tillamook Head - This fire was turned back over to the landowner to manage. Although this may not be an emergent situation, heat associated with a fire needs to be monitored.
Note: The screenshot to the right was taken at 2:58 p.m. on November 19, 2022.