Pole Creek Fire SW of Sisters fully contained

Firefighters said Thursday they have declared containment of the more than month-old Pole Creek Fire southwest of Sisters, a nearly 27,000-acre blaze that sent up towering or low-hanging smoke plumes for weeks and caused thick smoke to envelop Sisters, Bend and other communities during the peak of the firefight.

Officials announced Thursday that crews had achieved 100 percent containment of the fire on Wednesday, helped by recent rainfall and cooler temperatures.

They said the remaining fire crews will continue to mop up isolated pockets of heat along the fire line and rehabilitate areas where it is safe to do so.

A closure area remains in affect, officials said, while Deschutes National Forest officials look for opportunities to open areas outside of the fire perimeter.

“As always, public and firefighter safety remain the No. 1 factor in making those determinations,” the announcement said.

Close to 1,000 firefighters were on the lines at the peak of the battle, which cost over $17 million. By Thursday, that was down to one 20-person hand crew, two excavators, two engines and other personnel.