Central Oregon – Temperatures are forecasted to be more moderate today, which should allow firefighters the opportunity to increase containment on all three major fires in Central Oregon.
A local Central Oregon Fire Management Service (COFMS) Type 3 team under the command of Don Tschida will be taking over both the Bean Creek Fire and Monty Fire at 6:00 p.m. today. Both fires burning on the Deschutes National Forest east of the Monty Campground near Lake Billy Chinook have preliminary containment lines around the perimeter and crews will continue to secure and mop up fire lines until containment is reached. The Monty Fire remains 23 acres this morning with 0% containment and the Bean Creek remains 138 acres and is now 20% contained. A heavy helicopter will be available again today to assist firefighters in cooling hot spots. 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 burning on Lakeview District BLM managed lands is still 75% contained at 310 acres. Crews will likely be able to achieve full containment on this fire by the end of shift today.
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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