Firefighters continue to battle a wildfire sparked Wednesday afternoon near Eugene. The Chambers Mill fire, about three miles south of Lorane, has worsened local air quality. Firefighters worked through the night, bulldozing a line around most of the perimeter. Cynthia Orlando is with the Oregon Department of Forestry, which is fighting the fire:
Orlando: “There are a lot of resources, fortunately, assigned to the fire, which is always good news during a busy fire season. We have one 14-person crew, three fallers, one bulldozer, one water tender, four helicopters and two air tankers.”
Orlando says the fire has burned about 180 acres. She warns people to be alert to fire dangers: the forecast is for continued hot and dry weather, increasing winds, and scattered thunderstorms. Until further notice, the Oregon Department of Transportation is guiding traffic through one lane on Territorial Road south of Lorane. The cause of the fire is under investigation.