Dozens of wildfires are actively burning across the Pacific Northwest, including Oregon. Crews are not only battling the fires, but scorching, triple-digit heat and smoke in many areas.
On a dirt road flanking a series of wildfires called the Middle Fork Complex near Oakridge, a water truck crew fills up, before helping firefighters with controlled burns. The idea is to burn up fuels before wildfires can reach them.
“You know, you’re not really going to fight flame in the trees," said Steve McAdoo of the Oregon State Fire Marshal's Office. "It’s gonna burn to a certain point that has been burned out, previously.
"We call that ‘black’ and so they’re gonna let the fire come to the black a lot of times.”
Since mid-week, fire crews have seen temps reach or exceed the 100 (Fahrenheit) mark. Beginning this weekend, conditions will cool down a little, though lightning storms are possible.
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