Fire progress allows Lone Pine Rd., campground to reopen

(Update: Fire containment builds; Lone Pine Road, Skull Hollow Campground reopen)

With no growth on the 900-acre Lone Pine Fire overnight and the fire at 40 percent containment, Lone Pine Road and Skull Hollow Campground have reopened to the public, officials said Tuesday.

Firefighters were still working to secure lines around the fire two miles east of Gray Butte and move it toward further containment, they said.

Resources on the fire have remained fairly steady, with three 20-person hand crews, 8 engines, a water tender and various overhead personnel.

Once again, the public was asked to be thoughtful of dry fuels when enjoying any outdoor activities at this time of year. A single spark in dry grass can cause a wildfire in Central Oregon.

Isolated islands of vegetation within the fire perimeter continued to burn Monday, with firefighters observing some single-tree torching, according to the 5 p.m update from the Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center.

The fire on the Crooked River National Grassland was mapped early Monday at 900 acres, slightly reduced from Sunday’s 1,000-acre estimate, and was burning in grass, sagebrush and some timber.

Some burnout operations occurred on the fire Monday, primarily to secure fire lines. Mop-up work is planned Tuesday to secure line around the perimeter.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

The wind-driven blaze broke out Sunday afternoon in brush and grass about 3/4 of a mile west of milepost 14 on U.S. Highway 26, near Lone Pine Road. It was estimated at 150 acres less than 90 minutes after the initial report and put up a very visible smoke column.

“It is getting hit pretty hard, and we are not expecting a long-term incident at this point,” said Forest Service spokeswoman Jean Nelson-Dean.

The Crook County Health Department warned that people who have chronic respiratory or heart issues should avoid the area or stay inside to avoid the smoke.