1,414-acre Cemetery Fire 50 pct. contained

(Update: Fire now 1,414 acres; 50 percent contained)

Despite more gusty winds Wednesday, the Cemetery Fire burning east of Prineville was held to 1,414 acres and is now 50 percent contained, officials said.

More smoldering was seen in the late afternoon, but the fire perimeter held as nearly 260 firefighters mopped up, monitored and reinforced containment lines.

Information: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5942/

While helicopters on Wednesday were shared with the Substation fire to the north, there were no aircraft on the blaze.

Earlier, strong support from air tankers dropping retardant and helicopters dropping water helped crews minimize the fire’s growth.

State and federal firefighters responded to more than two-dozen lightning-sparked fires across Central Oregon on Monday, the largest the wind-fanned blaze that on the Ochoco National Forest and a private ranch about 40 miles east of Prineville.

The Cemetery Fire was reported around 1 p.m. Monday, burning along the northeast border of the Maury Mountains, five miles northeast of Tower Point Lookout. It grew fas in dry shrub and grass rangelands and climbing into higher-elevation forested areas.

Monday’s firefighting effort was aided by two heavy air tankers, seven single-engine air tankers (SEAT planes), four helicopters and the Post-Paulina Rangeland Fire Protection Association.

Land ownership includes the Ochoco National Forest, Prineville District of the BLM and private lands protected by the state Department of Forestry.

There is no estimate of containment at this time, officials said Tuesday A Type 3 Incident Management Team took over management of the blaze at 7 a.m. Tuesday.

All of the other lightning-caused fires in the area were held to an acre or less, officials said in an update late Monday night.

A red flag (fire weather) warning is in effect from 4 p.m. Tuesday to 8 p.m. Wednesday for heat, low humidity and gusty winds.

For updates: http://www.centraloregonfire.org/

New fires have been popping up all over the state. Eight small fires, a half-acre or less in size, broke out in the remote northeast corner of Crater Lake National Park.

South-central Oregon firefighters responded to nearly 50 lightning-caused fires Sunday and Monday, the largest the 41-acre Holbrook Fire eight miles southeast of Garber Reservoir.

And the Silver Creek fire that broke out late last week in a remote southeast corner of Silver Falls State Park has been measured at 27 acres and is 35 percent contained, with 75 percent of the perimeter lined. Steep slopes, thick undergrowth and numerous large snags have challenged the safety of some 125 firefighters.