CHILOQUIN, OR -- Several new fires are burning in Oregon. In Klamath County, the Copperfield Fire has burned more than 3,500 acres, east of Chiloquin, growing in gusty winds. Governor Tina Kotek declared it a conflagration Sunday evening, clearing the way for the Oregon State Fire Marshal to mobilize an incident management team and eight task forces, including crews from Lane County and Central Oregon. Its cause hasn’t been determined. Chiloquin schools are closed Tuesday due to uncertain fire conditions and air quality issues. In Central Oregon, the cause of a new fire near Tygh Valley is also under investigation. The Oak Canyon Fire was more than 4,000 acres, as of Monday evening, and moving towards Maupin.
Four others are blamed on lightning. Near Mitchell, the Shoe Fly Fire is the largest new incident. It's estimated at about 8,000 acres, as of Tuesday morning. An Oregon Department of Forestry incident management team takes command of the Shoe Fly Fire at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
The 7,700-acre Rail Ridge Fire is burning in Grant County. It jumped the south fork of the John Day River in several locations and pushed into the Murderers Creek drainage Monday.
In Crook County, the Wiley Flat Fire (pictured above) is burning near Maury Mountain, prompting evacuations of campgrounds and other areas near the community of Post. In Wheeler County, the small Cottonwood Fire held at less than 20 acres.
