Evacuation orders lifted for McIver State Park fire

Published 12:00 am Sunday, September 11, 2022

All evacuation orders have been lifted around a fire at Milo McIver State Park near Estacada.

The fire began Friday night, Sept. 9, and spread quickly amid strong winds, hot weather and dry conditions, prompting evacuations for nearby residents and campers at the park.

By Saturday afternoon, Sept. 10, fire officials said the 25-acre blaze was knocked out, but evacuation orders remained in effect as persistent windy weather kept the fire danger high.

In consultation with fire officials, evacuation orders were lifted shortly after 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office on social media.

McIver State Park remains closed. When the area is safe, Oregon State Police will contact campers who evacuated the park to retrieve items they left behind, the Sheriff’s Office said.

People returning home following evacuations are being told to be aware of roadway hazards such as fallen tree limbs, look for downed power lines near their homes and check for hot spots or areas that have been exposed to heat. Additional tips for people returning home are available on Clackamas County’s .

An investigation to determine the fire’s cause is underway.

About 550 homes were evacuated between Friday night and Saturday morning. The Red Cross Cascades Region opened a shelter at Clackamas Community College for evacuees. Residents in a large area as far west as the eastern edge of Oregon City had been told to be ready to evacuate before officials reduced evacuation levels Saturday evening.

Izak Hamilton, spokesperson for the Clackamas Fire District, said a total of four structures were damaged during the fire.

One home and a barn were destroyed by the fire, the Estacada Fire District Saturday. Another home sustained damage after embers started a fire in the attic.

The fire didn’t cause any injuries, officials said. A firefighter had a medical emergency during the incident and was transported to a hospital.

Firefighters will continue to work on the fire for the next several days, Estacada Fire Sunday on Facebook.

More than a dozen different fire agencies responded to the fire.