Fifteen fires were reported to the Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center Wednesday. Firefighters again were successful in keeping most of the fires small; less than a quarter acre. Two fires pushed crews Wednesday afternoon, but with the support of aircraft forward progress of the fires was stopped.
The Sheep Rock Fire was reported late Wednesday afternoon on private lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry north of Prineville. Large air tankers and single engine air tankers were able to slow the fire spread, allowing dozers to work on establishing fireline and firefighters to cool the fire edge. Firefighters will remained on scene Wednesday evening building line and securing the fire. The fire is approximately six acres.
Incident 674 is estimated to be 120 acres burning on private lands within the Post-Paulina Rangeland Fire Protection Association. Resources are continuing to work with rangeland association members to establish fireline for this fire.
Acreage for the Doghouse Gulch Fire located near the South Fork of the John Day River drainage was updated to 57 acres. Firefighters expect to continue work strengthening fireline and clearing fuel and heat adjacent to the perimeter for the next few days.
Additional fires are expected Thursday as warm weather continues to dry wildland fuels. These holdover fires can create significant challenges for firefighters when they begin to burn more intensely after building up heat smoldering in damp fuels. Detection is a challenge as smoke dissipates without a defined column while creeping around.
