Wildfires in Oregon

Oregon: Dry conditions, high winds fuel wildfires

KOIN,

24 January, 2014

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The Oregon Department of Forestry confirms two wildland fires, with a total size of 125 acres, are burning along the Oregon Coast near Arch Cape, which is south of Cannon Beach.

The Shingle Fire was first reported at around 10 a.m. Thursday on private timberland. As of 9:45 a.m. Friday, crews estimated the fire to be about 25 acres in size. The Falcon Fire, which likely spawned off the Single Fire, was reported shortly after 10 p.m. Thursday in the same general area. The fire has grown in size to an estimated 100 acres, according to ODF spokesman Tom Bennett. Both were still burning as of 9:30 a.m. Friday.

Both the Shingle and Falcon fires rekindled from slash burns, officials told KOIN 6 News.

The fire area is located near the tunnel that leads to Arch Cape. There have been no evacuations as no structures are threatened. The closest structure was more than two to three miles east of the fires, Bennett said. Residents in some coastal towns should expect smoky conditions. Firefighters had hoped a logging road would help stop the spread of the Falcon Fire. However, the wind allowed it to jump the road.

By Friday afternoon more than 100 firefighters were battling each blaze. A helicopter was also involved in the aerial attack. Crews are still gathering more resources, but officials confirmed that agencies from several nearby cities — including Cannon Beach, Astoria, Warrenton, Seaside and Tillamook — have all sent fire crews to the scene.

The biggest challenge with the fire was the strong east wind, officials said, which could force them to ground the helicopter.

Meanwhile, five fires were burning in the Northern Oregon Cascades. The 1, 2, 3 Complex consists of three fires, about 210 acres in size, along with two new fires burning near the town of Gates. The size of those two new fires was not confirmed.

The 125-acre Alder Creek Fire was burning about 16 miles north of Shady Cove in Southwest Oregon. ODF, U.S. Forest Service personnel and local landowners were battling that blaze.

At 4 p.m., the Oregon Department of Forestry said these wildfires were burning:

Bone Mountain Fire burning six miles south of Remote

Camas Creek Fire burning about seven miles northeast of Remote

Falcon and Shingle Mill Fires burning three miles east of Highway 101, between Arch Capes and Manzanita

1, 2 3 Complex fires burning 15 miles east of Silverton

Green Mountain Fire burning seven miles west of Gates

Alder Creek Fire burning 16 miles north of Shady Cove