Firefighters worked through the night last night
to complete burnout operations and strengthen containment lines around a
wildfire near Elkhorn campground in the Maury Mountains.
Crews have surrounded the entire fire with dozer
and hand line and will continue burnout operations today in order to prevent
further spread of a fire that moved from National Forest land onto nearby
private property Thursday afternoon.
The fire size is currently estimated at 1,700
acres and 25 percent containment, with roughly 200 acres located on adjacent
ranch land.
The firefighting response has been a cooperative
effort between the US Forest Service, BLM, Oregon Department of Forestry, the
Post-Paulina Rangeland Protection Association and the private land owners.
Numerous crews, engines, and dozers remain on scene in addition to aerial
support.
The fire began as a prescribed burn conducted to
improve range and forest health within a 333-acre unit on the Ochoco National
Forest. An unexpected wind event associated with storm movement from the south
created an unforeseen wind reversal Thursday afternoon, pushing fire north
across planned containment lines and creating a wildfire.
The Ochoco National Forest has issued a temporary
area closure to prevent hunters and other visitors from entering the fire
suppression area.
View the order and closure map here: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/ochoco/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD519937
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