Austin Fire emergency closure expanded on Mt. Hood National Forest

The Mt. Hood National Forest has expanded the existing emergency closure order for the Austin Fire and The Narrows Fire, located on the Clackamas River Ranger District. This closure is necessary for public safety and to allow firefighters and heavy equipment to operate both efficiently and safely in the area. 

The expanded closure prohibits all public entry within the defined area, including travel on Forest Service roads, use of Forest Service trails or campgrounds, and any off-road travel. Closed Forest Service roads include, but aren’t limited to, portions of Forest Road (FR) 46, FR 57, FR 63, and FR 70, as well as OR Highway 224 east of Fish Creek. Popular closed recreation sites include Lake Harriet, Timothy Lake, Bagby Hot Springs, and campgrounds along the Clackamas River east of Carter Bridge. 

Closure signs are posted at trailheads, roads, and other access points. The complete closure order and map are available online: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/mthood/alerts/clackamas-river-rd-fires

Follow Inciweb to stay up to date on the Austin Fire: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/ormhf-austin-fire

Fire restrictions have been in place on Mt. Hood National Forest since July 1. However, illegal campfires continue to be reported across the Forest, which causes fire personnel to be diverted from active, more dangerous wildfires. 

Drought, combined with hot and dry days, has created conditions extremely receptive to sparks or small fires spreading into larger, uncontrolled fires. Every Forest visitor has a responsibility to help protect our public lands from human-caused wildfires. 

Current fire restrictions are posted on the Mt. Hood National Forest website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/mthood/alerts/fire-restrictions-effect-july-1