SALEM, Ore. — The Vitae Springs Fire in South Salem, one of several wildfires burning across Oregon, remains 100% contained as of Monday, according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office, prompting all remaining evacuation alert areas to be reduced to Level 1 "Be Ready," the lowest alert level.
The last of the Level 3 "GO" evacuation areas were reduced to Level 2 "Be Set" Sunday morning once officials were confident that conditions were relatively stable. Those areas were further reduced to Level 1 Monday, and the other areas that had previously been at Level 1 had their alerts ended altogether.
Containment lines held the fire overnight Saturday night, the sheriff's office said, though fire crews from a number of different agencies remained at the scene Sunday to aid crews from the Salem Fire Department.
As of Monday morning, no injuries have been reported and no structures have been lost. At the height of the evacuations, 119 single family homes were within a Level 3 evacuation area and another 516 homes in a Level 2 evacuation area.
There were still 60 fire personnel on site as of Monday for "continuing mop up work," the sheriff's office said. The fire's footprint was about 165 acres, and it was expected to continue to smolder until the arrival of prolonged heavy rains.
The cause of the fire is currently unknown.
The fire started around 4 p.m. Friday on Vitae Springs Road South, about seven miles southwest of downtown Salem. Deputies made door-to-door evacuation notices for people in the Level 3 evacuation area.
EVACUATION MAP: Up-to-date map for evacuated areas in Marion and Polk counties
As of Monday afternoon, the following evacuation warnings remained in effect:
Level 1 "Be Ready"
- Vitae Springs Road between Skyline Road to River Road South
- West side of Skyline Road from Vitae Springs Road to Cole Road South
- Orville Road South
- Riversprings Road to Prospect Ridge
A meeting point for evacuees was established at Judson Middle School at 4512 Jones Road Southeast in Salem, but it was expected to close on Sunday. The sheriff's office said that those with livestock at the Oregon State Fairgrounds could work directly with county officials to coordinate next steps.
People are asked to avoid the fire area. Sign up for emergency alerts in Marion and Polk counties through Marion Polk Alerts.
Several fires are burning around the state. In Central Oregon, about 15 miles east of Oakridge, the Cedar Creek Fire has burned 134 square miles, an area more than twice the size of the city of Eugene, and prompted Level 3 "GO" evacuation orders for Oakridge and other areas.
A fire that started around 9 p.m. Friday at Milo Mclver State Park in Estacada, prompted Level 3 "GO" evacuations. A spokesperson for Clackamas Fire said Saturday morning the fire had burned about 25 acres and was "contained for the most part."
With hot temperatures, low humidity and strong east winds this weekend creating conditions for extreme fire danger, multiple utility companies around Oregon started public safety power shutoffs Friday morning for people living in high-risk areas. Shutoffs were scheduled through at least Saturday.