Concert to Commemorate the 5th Anniversary of the Archie Creek Fire

ROSEBURG, Ore. - A special commemorative concert will be held to mark the fifth anniversary of the Archie Creek Fire, one of the devastating megafires that swept across western Oregon during the 2020 Labor Day fires. The event is a collaborative effort between Forest Bridges, Jane Ratzlaff, the Family Development Center, and the In a Landscape organization.

The concert will feature pianist Hunter Noack of In a Landscape and will take place at the Millpond Recreation Site, a poignant location where the Archie Creek Fire burned over 125,000 acres in Douglas County. The fire destroyed 154 homes and left more than half the affected area in an unrestored, severely burned condition.

Millpond, nestled along Rock Creek on the site of a historic logging mill pond, remains surrounded by the charred aftermath of the fire. While the Bureau of Land Management has made strides in stream and recreational site restoration, the visible remnants of the blaze serve as a powerful reminder of the fire’s impact. The area has been deemed safe and accessible for this public performance.

Attendees will have the opportunity to learn firsthand about the long-term effects of high-severity wildfire in Oregon’s forest and recreation zones, as well as the region’s Indigenous history, home to the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, and the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians.

Forest Bridges will also use the event to share updates on their policy initiatives aimed at transforming the management of O&C Lands. Their focus is on promoting forest restoration, improving fire resilience, supporting biodiversity, and sustaining rural economies that depend on timber revenues for essential services.

The commemorative concert promises to be both a moving tribute and an educational experience, offering insight into forest recovery, community resilience, and the path forward for Oregon’s fire-affected landscapes.