A fire in central OR is now threatening 1,200 homes in a subdivision near Lake Billy Chinook.
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He said the change was a welcome respite from the strong northeastern winds earlier in the day, which had reached between 20 and 30 miles per hour and had pushed the fire toward the subdivision.
It’s unclear what caused the fire, but lightning strikes were reported Tuesday evening in Central Oregon.
Two hand crews, three fire engines and three bulldozers are working aggressively to build fire lines, supported by planes and water-dropping helicopters.
ODF spokesperson Erik Pronold said additional firefighters and equipment would be heading to Sisters to set up camp at the middle school. Forest Grove Fire & Rescue and Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue tweeted Wednesday afternoon that they were sending resources. The U.S. Forest Service is leading fire response efforts, with assistance from the North Carolina Forest Service and Burke County Emergency Management.
The Acting Regional Administrator for FEMA Region IX has determined that the Tenderfoot Fire threatened such destruction as would constitute a major disaster.
“Demobilization is an important part of fire operations”, said Tracy Skerjanec, deputy fire management officer at the Bureau of Land Management’s Vale District.
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The approximately 500-acre Draw fire, which is burning about 20 miles northeast of Chiloquin, was about 60 percent contained Thursday morning.
