The Waterfalls 2 fire west of Warm Springs is now about six thousand acres, almost double what it was on Sunday, when it was around 2700 acres. The fire started back on August 4th by a lightning strike in a very remote and rugged area.
Public Information Officer Doug Epperson says initially the fire was a low priority and fire crews didn't get the air support they needed until Sunday.
Epperson spoke with 1110 KBND news Monday morning.
T
"OTHER ISSUES WERE HAVING ARE TERRAIN ISSUES- PART OF THE FIRE IS ABOUT 5 MILES EAST OF THE SUMMIT OF MT JEFFERSON SO ITS PRETTY TOUGH TERRAIN UP THERE- THE TRIBE HAD RELEASED MOUNTAIN GOATS UP THERE- SO IT KINDA LETS YOU KNOW WHAT KIND OF TERRAIN IT IS- MORE MOUNTAIN GOAT TERRAIN THAN FIRE-FIGHTER TERRAIN."
Epperson says fire crews also had to build roads and evacuation routes for fire equipment before they could even really begin attacking the fire. As of Monday, there were more than 500 crews battling the fire, which is burning about 22 miles west of Warm Springs. Fire strategists call both the terrain and growth potential "extreme".
During the next few days they will be fighting high tempertures in the area which are expected to be in the 90's coupled with very low humidity. At this point, there is no estimate of containment.
Epperson says some trails in the area are impacted. People in the region may also be affected by smoke from the fire.
