Related: All Evacuation Orders Lifted For Oregon's North Santiam Park Fire

UPDATE: The evacuation order was downgraded to level 2 Wednesday morning.

THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR: Become a Sponsor

———

Level 3 "go now" evacuation orders are in place for residents in Lyons, Oregon, because of a grass fire first reported Tuesday afternoon.

THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR: Become a Sponsor

The fire is burning near the North Santiam State Recreational Area off Highway 22 and had grown to an estimated 60 acres as of late Tuesday evening. What's being called the Santiam Park Fire threatened 65 homes and outbuildings.

An evacuation center has been set up at Mari-Linn Elementary School. On Tuesday evening, the Linn County Sheriff's Office said it doesn't expect the evacuations to be lifted for at least 24 hours.

"We ask that you please stay clear of the area and that if you were asked to evacuate to please do so," the Linn County Sheriff's Office wrote on its Facebook page.

The cause of the fire remains unclear.

Strong easterly winds caused the fire to jump the Santiam River. It was burning in both Linn and Marion counties.

The Oregon Department of Forestry is working with the Lyons Fire Department and Linn County Sheriff’s Office.