After days of triple-digit highs, slightly cooler temperatures are giving firefighters across the Pacific Northwest a reprieve. But many challenges still face crews this weekend.
Poor to hazardous air quality blankets the region, and some forecasts show possible thunderstorms, which can create new, lightning-caused wildfires. That’s what sparked a dozen fires outside of Oakridge, Oregon, which is collectively called the Middle Fork Complex.
On the south end of the complex, public information officer Lauren Durocher explained how controlled burns have helped limit its spread.
“Firefighters are using the fire to burn out the vegetation between our holding line and the coming fire," she told KLCC. "That means when the fire does come, there’s less vegetation for the fire to burn.”
Oregon forestry officials say more than half a million of acres have burned so far this year.
Copyright 2021, KLCC.
