Gains Made On Middle Fork, But Conditions Still Vulnerable To Fire Spread

KLCC | By Brian Bull

Published August 17, 2021 at 2:04 PM PDT

The Middle Fork Complex outside of Oakridge has grown to more than 12,600 acres. Fire crews continue to gain ground, with the complex’s Kwis Fire more than half contained now.

Lauren DuRocher is the public information officer for the Middle Fork Complex. She says cooler temperatures are helping efforts. However…

“We’re still in drought conditions, we’re still in this long-term weather pattern of dry conditions, dry fuels out there, and a warming, drying trend, overall. So it’s nice kinda to see the snapshot of the day to day, but also seeing that bigger picture of the fire season that we’re in right now.”

DuRocher adds COVID-19 is another thing fire crews are trying to be wary of. Pandemic protocols are still in effect from last year.

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Brian Bull

Brian Bull is a part-time reporter for the KLCC News department, and first began working with the station in 2016. He's been a senior reporter with the Native American media organization Buffalo's Fire, and a journalism professor at the University of Oregon.

In his 30 years working as a public media journalist, Bull has worked at NPR, Twin Cities Public Television, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, Wisconsin Public Radio, and ideastream in Cleveland. His reporting has netted dozens of accolades, including four national Edward R. Murrow Awards (25 regional), the Ohio Associated Press' Best Reporter Award, Best Radio Reporter from the Indigenous Journalists Association, and the PRNDI/NEFE Award for Excellence in Consumer Finance Reporting.

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