Residents in portions of Clackamas County remain under Level 3 “Go Now” evacuation orders as the Austin Fire continues burning southeast of Estacada in Mt. Hood National Forest. Recent rainfall and cooler temperatures have substantially slowed fire behavior, but emergency managers have not yet rescinded mandatory evacuation orders.

Fire Status

The Austin Fire has burned approximately 12,610 acres and remains only partially contained. Investigators have confirmed the fire was human-caused. Crews are working under creeping and smoldering conditions, reinforcing perimeter lines following rain, but the fire is not yet considered controlled.

Highway 224 remains closed to public travel east of milepost 39 at Fish Creek. Trails, forest roads, and recreation sites across the affected Clackamas River Ranger District are largely off-limits while crews continue operations.

Evacuation Status

The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office is maintaining active evacuation levels in the upper Clackamas River corridor:

  • Level 3 “Go Now”: Mandatory evacuation orders remain in effect for portions of the upper Clackamas corridor. Residents must leave immediately.
  • Highway 224 closure: Enforced at milepost 39; checkpoints remain staffed around the clock.

Residents are urged not to return to Level 3 areas even as conditions improve, as evacuation orders are only lifted after a formal review by the county sheriff and incident management.

Fire Weather Outlook

As of Sunday, no red flag warnings are active in the area, and significant fire potential remains at seasonal lows statewide. A gradual warming and drying trend is forecast for midweek, accompanied by light to moderate winds, which could somewhat increase fire activity. Crews are using the current moderate weather window to solidify containment lines.

What Residents Should Do

  • Heed all active evacuation levels. Entering a Level 3 zone without authorization is illegal and dangerous.
  • Check the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office and Oregon State Fire Marshal interactive maps for updated evacuation boundaries.
  • Contact the Red Cross or local emergency services for information on evacuation shelter availability.
  • Follow campfire restrictions. Open burning outside designated campgrounds remains prohibited across Mt. Hood National Forest despite recent rain.

Updates to the Austin Fire are issued by the Mt. Hood National Forest and can be found on InciWeb at inciweb.wildfire.gov.