Air, ground crews stop advance of new lightning-sparked wildfire south of Highway 20, east of Hoodoo
![Claypool Fire retardant Ed Holloran 8-29](https://ktvz.b-cdn.net/2024/08/Claypool-Fire-retardant-Ed-Holloran-8-29.jpg)
![Claypool Fire 3 acres 8-29-3](https://ktvz.b-cdn.net/2024/08/Claypool-Fire-3-acres-8-29-3.jpg)
(Update: Adding photo; officials say forward progress of fire stopped, cause lightning)
SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) – A ground and air attack stopped the spread of a new lightning-sparked wildfire spotted Thursday on the Deschutes National Forest south of Highway 20 and east of Hoodoo Ski area, which grew to about three acres.
Incident 722, named the Claypool Fire, was reported around noon near the Meadow Lakes area, several miles east of the Willamette National Forest, officials said.
Three engines, an air attack plane and two helicopters were the first resources called to stop the fire, followed by a lead plane and two heavy air tankers. A hotshot crew also was ordered to help stop the blaze.
Air tankers made retardant drops and helicopters dropped buckets of water on the blaze, while a bulldozer joined the fight.
Officials said later Friday afternoon that forward progression of the fire had been stopped, and crews were working to build containment lines around the fire's perimeter. They also said the cause was determined to be lightning.
You can find updates on the Central Oregon Fire X/Twitter feed and at Watch Duty.
After a cooler and wetter early August following a record-hot and fiery July, fire officials have advised of the continued dry conditions ahead of a warmup over the Labor Day weekend.
The National Weather Service in Pendleton has issued a heat advisory for much of Central and Northeast Oregon, as well as Washington state, from 11 a.m. Saturday to 9 p.m. Sunday.