Despite the challenge of triple digit heat, firefighters announced they’ve made great strides fighting multiple wildfires in Oregon.
With assistance from the air, planes dropping retardant on the Miller Road fire were a big part of that progress.

Operations Section Chief Dave Robertson said, “We’re calling it contained.”

The Wasco County sheriff’s office has lifted all evacuation orders for the fire near Maupin, as firefighters say it’s about 95% contained.   They thanked everyone for their efforts, and shut down that fire’s Facebook page.  They will have a mop up crew still looking for hot spots along the 25 mile perimeter. That fire burned an estimated  10,847 acres and one home.

Crews fighting the Windigo Fire near La Pine reported Sunday they had dug lines around the entire perimeter. Ground resources on Sunday went towards mop-up efforts and holding the line.  The Windigo Fire is now about 25% contained on more than 1,000 acres, and firefighters are making progress on that and the Big Swamp, Shelter and Potter fires.  Ryan Sullivan is their spokesperson, saying “The fire looks extremely good.”

Crews also dug lines all the way around the Potter Fire near Toketee Lake, although the fire was still reported to be 0% contained as of Sunday, according to Northwest Incident Management Team 6. The Potter Fire has burned about 185 acres.

Both the Windigo and Potter Fires, were started by lightning strikes, and they’re among 27 known fires across the Umpqua, Willamette, Deschutes and Fremont-Winema National Forests.

Firefighters expect hot weather and less favorable wind conditions over the next few days to make the fights more challenging.

 

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