Central Oregon – A second Interagency Hotshot Crew and local 20-person Type 2 hand crew are arriving today to fight the Tolo Mountain Fire on the Deschutes National Forest. They are joining multiple crews, engines, 10 smokejumpers and a local Type 3 Incident Management Team that will assume command of the fire today, July 30, at approximately 6:00 p.m. The lightning caused fire is estimated to be 41 acres and is 0% contained.
Multiple Large Air Tankers (LATs) and two Single Engine Air Tankers (SEATs) were dispatched to respond to the fire yesterday afternoon when activity increased and two spot fires escaped preliminary containment lines. Firefighters were able to construct fireline around the approximately 5 acre spot fire and that line held through the night. Air tankers dropped retardant on a second spot to the east of the 5 acre spot and crews will be constructing containment lines around it today.
Continued hot and dry conditions will challenge suppression efforts today with forecasted triple digit temperatures, relative humidity in the single digits and critically dry fuels. There’s also a chance for thunderstorms in the area, which will likely bring breezy conditions to the fire area in the afternoon.
Air Tankers and heavy helicopters are available to assist firefighters on the ground in cooling hot spots and moderating fire behavior if needed.
The Tolo Mountain Fire approximately three miles north of Cappy Mountain on the Crescent Ranger District was reported July 27, 2022 at 5:45 pm and is burning in heavy timber with a mix of standing dead and downed wood.
For up-to-date information on Central Oregon fires, visit www.twitter.com/CentralORFire
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