By TED TAYLOR
CENTRAL OREGON DAILY NEWS
Central Oregon crews were able to hold the Paulina Lake fire to 48 acres overnight Sunday, working through the night cooling hot spots near the perimeter.
“That work will continue today as firefighters mop-up hot spots within a few hundred feet of the fire perimeter,” Central Oregon Fire Information said in a tweet.
Air tankers helped crews stop the progress of the fast-moving blaze that burned Sunday afternoon east of Highway 97 north of La Pine on BLM-managed timber and brush.
The fire started around 1 p.m. one to two miles northwest of the Ogden Group Camp, north of Forest Road 21 off Forest Road 9735.
Around 6:20, the agency tweeted “firefighters have stopped forward progress on the Paulina Lake fire and have established containment lines around the entire perimeter. They are now securing the perimeter and patrolling for spot fires.”
Heavy air tankers are currently supporting firefighters on the Paulina Lake Fire. Dropping retardant will help slow the spread, giving firefighters on the ground an advantage in constructing fire line. pic.twitter.com/k6SnL34BS2
— Central OR Fire Info (@CentralORFire) July 5, 2020
The fire is burning between the highway and the Paulina Lake recreation area, but the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office said no evacuations have been ordered.
No word yet on the possible cause, but there has been no lightning in the area in recent days.
Along with the heavy air support, single-engine tankers, bulldozers and six engines were working the fire.
“Central Oregon is currently in HIGH fire danger, meaning fuels are very receptive to ignitions,” CO Fire said in a report at 8 p.m. “If you are recreating on public lands, remember to remain diligent about ensuring all campfires are ‘dead out’ and cold to the touch when you leave them, all spark arrestors are properly installed, and trailer chains are secured.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
