The Central Oregon Fire Management Service (COFMS) and the Ochoco
National Forest, Lookout Mountain Ranger District, are managing the Wildcat
fire located 1 mile west of Spears Meadows south of Forest Service Road 3350
and along Highway 26 at mile marker 42.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, however, there was
lightning in the area over the past weekend.
Given the
time of year and favorable weather conditions, crews are using existing roads
and natural barriers for containment opportunities and using drip torches and
burn out operations to secure established containment lines. The fire is burning within an old harvest
treatment area and anticipated fire effects will be complementary to previous
treatments.
This
strategy will allow fire to play its natural ecological role on the landscape
while minimizing firefighter risk, promoting vegetation health and vigor in the
fire area and reducing hazardous fuels. When completed early next week, the final
perimeter is expected to be approximately 130 acres. This approach is in line with the Ochoco
National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan.
“With the
current weather conditions we are seeing right now and what we are anticipating
in the near future, this is a good opportunity for us to begin reintroducing
fire into our ecosystem,” says District Ranger, Slater Turner.
Smoke may be
visible in the area and along Highway 26.
While no formal closure is in place, the public is encouraged to avoid
the fire area.
6/19/17 @ 2:00pm. Did this fire re-start? We can see a lot of smoke.
ReplyDeleteFirefighters are doing a burnout operation to secure containment lines so you will see some additional smoke today while that is being done.
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