Thread by @KelleeAzar

Headed into Marion County the smoke is thick in the air as soon as you pass Woodburn.

Extremely eerie.

According to Marion County Sheriffs Office some people have come into the local hospital with burns from the fires.

#LiveOnK2

We are about 10 minutes out of Stayton. The smoke is getting extremely thick. #LiveOnK2

Seconds later it’s even worse. #LiveOnK2

Truly unreal. As we get closer it gets darker. You wouldn’t believe it’s noon.

Detroit, Lyons, Mehama, Mill City, Gates, Idahoans, North Fork, Brietenbush are all on Level 3 GO orders.

#LiveOnK2

The small flecks in my camera frame are Ash. We are now in Stayton.

Currently Stayton is under Level 2 Be Ready.

#LiveOnK2

This is video of Mill City from @MCSOInTheKnow. Many of the residents I have heard from today tell me much of Mill City has been devastated by this fire. #LiveOnK2

We are headed back down to Marion County today where the Beechie Creek Fire continues to ravage towns. Today we could see the thick smoke much further north. This is just north of Wilsonville. Yesterday, we didn’t see much until after Woodburn. #LiveOnK2

What a difference 24 hours makes. We are on the same stretch of Highway 22, yesterday it was a dark red/orange today much lighter. #LiveOnK2

Hwy 22 leaving Stayton still closed today as evacuation orders are still underway in many towns east of Stayton. #LiveOnK2

Another big difference today in Stayton we can actually kind of see the sun. Yesterday the smoke was so thick and dark we couldn’t tell where the sun was. The lack of sun making for much cooler conditions in Marion Co. #LiveOnK2

We’ve made it into Lyons now, it’s absolutely devastating to see so many homes and buildings burned to the ground.

Much of the area in Lyons is blocked off as fire crews continue to fight flames. There are also a number of power lines down in the area. #LiveOnK2

Homeless just two years ago, Denise and her family are once again without a home. They made it out just in time but their home wasn’t so lucky.

This is their first time back looking for anything and everything they can.

12-year-old Wyatte Tofte went missing after his family became surrounded by the Beechie Creek Fire. Today I spoke with his father before learning his fate. He called his son, “his world” #LiveOnK2

The Tofte family tells me Wyatte was found in the family car with his dog and his grandma. All had died because of the fire.

They tell me Grandma broke her leg just a few days earlier from a fall, making walking extremely difficult for her.