WILDERVILLE, Ore. —Fire crews made excellent progress overnight on the Cheney Creek Fire, on Marble mountain. The fire is estimated to be about 29 acres. It’s ODF’s largest fire of the season, so far.
Its affecting Bureau of Land Management and private land, on the mountain. Multiple resources including engines, a water tender, bulldozer, and aircrafts were sent to help stop the spread.
Thursday, resources are continuing mop-up operations, while waiting for potential spread and spot fires.
“As things get hotter, that fire activity potentially increasing a little bit and so we are just looking to hold those lines and mop up about 50 to 75 feet into the perimeter and just start making out way to the center,” said Natalie Weber with ODF.
ODF says reports show someone may have intentionally set numerous fires. Investigators are on scene.
With fire season in full swing, we’re checking in with ODF at the state level, to learn more about its night flying capabilities.
Currently, ODF does not have any night-flying helicopter resources. ODF says it’s a program it is interested in but, it’s in the planning phase looking at budgeting. ODF says, the program is in the early stages across the nation and would require additional equipment, along with more qualifications for pilots.
“It certainly would give our firefighters working the nightshirt more options for suppression so currently they are limited to the water and resources that can be delivered from the ground so it would give us another option in terms of providing some much-needed resources,” said Jamie Knight with ODF.
She says ODF is interested in the night flying operations, but there is no time frame for when it could be available.
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