UPDATED 8:30 A.M. Tuesday: the Milepost 97 fire near Canyonville has grown to more than 12,336 acres. As of Tuesday morning, it was 15 percent contained.
Al Devos is a spokesman for the Milepost 97 fire. He says cooler temperatures overnight and in the morning are helpful to fire crews. But winds kick up in the afternoon which can increase fire activity. Devos says the fire is burning in an old burn scar.
“After that fire went through it left a lot of big, tall trees standing upright, that are dead.” Devos says, “And once they catch fire they can sit there for days or even weeks just smoldering up top and smoking and even sending firebrands. So really challenging conditions on the ground.”
Devos says crews are working to put out spot fires and keep the blaze from expanding south toward Azaela and from crossing interstate 5. A firefighter was injured Monday due to flying debris.
An interactive maphas been created to show evacuation zones due to the fire.
