As the fire grows closer to full containment, the number of fire crews, engines, and equipment will continue to decrease. It is the goal of the incident management team to retain the appropriate number of resources on the fire for the work that remains. The incoming team will start with approximately 100 personnel plus dozers, tenders, and engines.
Fire behavior along the perimeter will be minimal today, consisting primarily of burning stumps and smoldering duff. The most active fire behavior likely to occur will be within interior islands of unburned fuel.
As the easterly flow continues today, the weather will be warmer and drier. Last night was the driest in more than seven days. Daytime temperatures should reach the lower 70s to lower 80s with relative humidity in the low teens. Winds will be breezy in the afternoon up to 15 mph.
As of Saturday afternoon the evacuation notices in all areas were lifted except for the Lakeview Estates neighborhood which has been reduced to a Level 1.
The Fremont-Winema Forest emergency closure order for the Watson Creek Fire allows access to some popular recreation sites. Closure Order Number 06-02-03-18-02-3 can be seen in full at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/fremont-winema/alerts-notices.
Recreationists are reminded that Public Use Restrictions are in effect and must be followed due to extreme fire danger. Labor Day weekend and firefighting activities have combined to substantially increase traffic over the weekend.
Please drive carefully! In preparing for the incoming fire management team, the fire information number has changed to 541-219-0515.
Size: 58,673 acres
Containment: 90%
Location: 6 miles southwest of Paisley, Oregon (Paisley Ranger District)
Cause: Under Investigation
Total Assigned Personnel: 470
