Eastern Oregon wildfire tops 6,500 acres

More than 500 firefighters are battling a more than 6,500-acre wildfire in Eastern Oregon that broke out Sunday afternoon.

The 525 firefighters on the lines of the Rail Fire 10 miles southwest of Unity report significant progress due to a break in the weather on Wednesday, but the fire is only 5 percent contained at this point.

Burnout operations are a key reason why the fire burning in lodgepole pine has grown to 6,543 acres. The burnouts were expected to increase smoke from the fire Thursday.

On Thursday, the Baker County Sheriff’s Office, consulting with fire managers, reduced the evacuation notice from Level 2 (“Get Set”) to Level 1 (“Get Ready”) for areas along Cemetery, South Fork and Bull Run roads.

Several campgrounds have been evacuated and closed, as well as national forest land near the fire.

Meanwhile, the Bybee Creek Fire west of Crater Lake, which began a week ago,has now now burned 872 acres and is 12 percent contained, officials said Thursday.

Thursday evening, Rim Village reported ash fallout due to a predicted wind shift that was increasing fire activity on the northern flank. But officials said the fire remained within control lines and activity had not increased on the east flank, closest to Rim Village.

Continued hot and dry weather, along with strong east winds pushed the fire toward the Lightning Spring Trail, as crews fought the blaze from the Rim Road.

Get information on Oregon’s wildfires and others around the country at: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/state/38/