Firefighters continue to battle the Holiday Farm Fire. Since starting Labor Day evening, the fire has caused one fatality and destroyed nearly 800 buildings along the McKenzie River Corridor.
In a heavily forested area roughly 8 miles north of Vida, members of the Oregon National Guard are using a pump to get water from a nearby creek. The water will help eliminate smoldering areas in trees and on the ground that could turn into fires again.
Robert Holster is a squad boss overseeing the process.
“Right now we’re just mopping up any stump holes, trying to get any hidden heat cooled down so there’s no potential reburn occurring," said Holster.
"Like we’re using right now water from a stream to help cool the hot embers down.”
The crew’s also dug up smoldering roots and put in containment lines. Holster said rain expected in the later half of this week will greatly benefit their efforts.
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