South Central Oregon Interagency Fire Incident Management Team 3 expects to have fulfilled its objectives early next week and restore management of the Watson Creek Fire to the Fremont-Winema National Forest and Paisley Ranger District.

Fire crews continue to mop-up and perform suppression repair along the fire boundary and within the interior.

The Level 1 – Be Ready – evacuation status for Lakeview Estates will be lifted at noon today. Fire managers ask that only residents and property owners use the roads, as there is significant traffic from fire crews, heavy equipment, ranchers and logging trucks.

There will be a community meeting at 7 p.m. tonight at the Paisley Community Center to update the public on the Watson Creek Fire. The most current information available will be shared, as well as next steps, followed by questions and answers.

Friday’s early morning infrared imagery showed a hot spot outside of fire lines near Mill Creek. “There was heat in the ground that hadn’t shown up yet as smoke or flame,” said Vince Grace, field operations chief for Team 6. “Our day crew was able to find it and dig it out. It was a good catch.”

Chipping operations continue in the northern portion of the Watson Creek Fire to reduce the concentration of roadside slash left over from suppression operations. Crews are watching for hot spots outside the lines while working to mop up 100 feet or more in from the perimeter in all areas.  Some stumps are still burning and isolated tree torching is visible in the interior portion of the fire.