Largest Ore. wildfire 82 percent contained
GRANTS PASS, Ore. – Firefighters were able to keep what is being dubbed as Southern Oregon's "Oak Flat" fire in check on all fronts into Saturday, despite adverse winds and dry conditions.
The fire is now 82 percent contained, according to Northwest Interagency Coordination Center data.
Helicopters attacked hot spots and hand crews worked late to keep the fire from spreading further, reports U.S. Forest Service sources. Strategic burning was done to help protect the area's Sam Brown Campground and private land to the east, and stop the fire from moving north toward the Chrome Ridge area of Grants Pass.
This is one of the three largest wildfires in Oregon that crews are battling as we head into the Labor Day weekend. Reports from federal agencies Saturday said the largest fire area is this one in Southern Oregon. The Oak Flat fire is about 10 miles northwest of Selma, where it started three weeks ago is raising smoke columns visible from much of the Rogue and Illinois valleys.
In the northern Willamette Valley, Mount Hood Forest officials say the Olallie Lake Scenic Area is closed south of the Camp Ten Campground as firefighters work on the View Lake complex of fires. That fire line stretches more than 4,580 acres and is 35 percent contained. A spot fire east of Pyramid Butte, on Warm Spring Reservation land, is in "patrol status."
In the central part of the state, the Scott Mountain fire has led to the closure of areas in the Mount Washington Wilderness and nearby National Forest lands. The Scott Mountain fire covers more than 3,454 acres, and is 30 percent contained.
Other fires burn outside of Oregon in the Northwest, including Washington's Old Highway 8 fire. That fire had burned more than 2,000 acres as of Sunday, Aug. 29. See all of the fires burning in the U.S., many of which are in the Pacific Northwest.
The battle of Oak Flat
An Incident Management Team is "evaluating long-range weather and fire behavior forecasts to better plan future staffing and suppression actions," according to U.S. Forest Service reports.
A cold front with a lingering low pressure is expected to arrive Saturday, reducing temperatures by 10 degrees and increasing relative humidity by 10 percent to 15 percent. Fire officials say this will reduce "active fire behavior" Saturday.
With cooler temperatures continuing through next week, the fire is expected to stop spreading nearly as quickly as it has over the past three weeks. Nearly 7,443 acres have been scorched by the blaze, with continued concern for homes and campgrounds.
Cooling temperatures "will give firefighters time to secure the containment lines and secure the northernmost fire perimeter," the forest service reports.
Smoke was seen in the skies over Grants Pass Saturday. However, a light northerly wind is expected to send smoke south toward Illinois Valley – clearing the skies north of Grants Pass.
In Southern Oregon the Sam Brown Campground, the 2500 road (also known as Taylor Creek Road ), the 2402 road and many other smaller forest service roads remain closed to all but fire traffic.
- The Associated Press contributed to this report.
UPDATE: Our initial story reported the active burns, in miles, rather than the full spread of the above fires. We apologize for any confusion that may have caused.
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