The McCaffery Fire continues to blaze through Central Oregon, as reported by multiple sources including Central Oregon Fire Info Central Oregon Daily, keeping firefighters on high alert. The fire near Redmond Municipal Airport has scorched 458 acres and stands at 25% containment.
Despite grappling with obstacles including record-high temperatures that reached 103 degrees in Redmond, firefighters have made significant progress. Firefighters caught a few spotfires outside of the containment lines, but they managed to hold all fires under one acre in size, bolstered by helicopter support, according to Central Oregon Fire Info.
Additionally, evacuation levels have been adjusted. The areas on Sunny Sage Road off of McCaffery Road in Deschutes County, initially under a Level 3 "Go Now" directive, have been downgraded to Level 2 "Be Set", as per the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. Crook County maintains a Level 2 evacuation notice for west Powell Butte Estates and the area to the south of Powell Butte Highway, KPTV reports.
Another component of the firefighting force, two heavy helicopters have been assigned to assist the efforts on the ground. Available to the team are multiple air tankers, alongside 12 engines, two dozers, two skidgines, two water tenders, and one Type 2 initial attack crew. Though situated east of the Redmond Airport and south of Highway 126 on Bureau of Land Management lands, the McCaffery Fire could also be compounded due to wind gusts that might reach up to 20mph in the afternoon, KOIN states.
The cause of the McCaffery Fire remains unknown and is still under investigation. As Central Oregon faces this environmental challenge, ongoing efforts by firefighting teams continue in the face of adversity posed by the climate and harsh landscape conditions.
