Central Oregon – Breezy conditions tested fire lines this afternoon but firefighters continued to make great progress on the three large fires in Central Oregon today.
The Monty Fire on the Deschutes National Forest near Lake Billy Chinook is now 23 acres. Crews and dozers have put line around the entire fire perimeter and have begun a hose lay around the preliminary containment lines to begin to mop-up. Firefighters were also supported today by helicopters dropping water to cool hot spots.
The Bean Creek Fire west of the Monty Fire remains 138 acres and is 10% contained. A heavy helicopter was shared between the Bean Creek Fire and several fires on the Willamette National Forest to maximize efficiencies and assist firefighters across boundaries. A Central Oregon Fire Management Service (COFMS) Type 3 Team will be taking over command of the Bean Creek and Monty Fires at the end of shift tomorrow. A Level 1 evacuation notice (Get Ready) issued by Jefferson County Sheriff’s Officer remains in place for houses on Montgomery Shores on the Metolius Arm. The public is asked to stay out of the area. Monty Campground on the Sisters Ranger District remains closed.
The Hole in the Ground Fire approximately 1 ½ miles northeast of Hole in the Ground on the Deschutes National Forest and Lakeview District BLM managed lands is now 75% contained at 310 acres. When the fire started yesterday at 10:18 a.m., there were two other lighting caused starts (incident 780 and 784) in the same area. The quick work of several local Lake County ranchers armed with shovels kept those fires at 1/10 of an acre. Fire managers want to thank those individuals for their quick work on those fires, which allowed crews to focus on the fast-moving Hole in the Ground Fire. This kind of partnership with volunteer and Rural Fire Protection Districts helps protect private land assets, valuable infrastructure and the natural resources we all rely on and love.
The most important thing members of the public can do to help firefighters right now is to do their part to prevent human-caused fires. With an increasing number of acres on fire in the Pacific Northwest, fire and aviation resources are stretched thin. The public is reminded that we remain in EXTREME fire danger and public use restrictions are in place on all federally managed public lands. Do your part to prevent one more spark.
For up-to-date information on Central Oregon fires, visit www.twitter.com/CentralORFire
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