As of Tuesday, an infrared drone survey detected heat, but no active flames emanate from the tree's peak, according to federal Bureau of Land Management spokesperson Megan Harper. The investigation into the fire's cause is ongoing, eliminating lightning as a potential factor. Harper expressed concerns that the fire could lead to a reassessment of the tree's ranking among the tallest trees globally, noting the recent loss of 50 feet due to the burning. While the risk of total destruction is low because of the tree's massive structure, firefighters are executing several tactics to contain the fire's impact. The Coos Forest Protective Association has reported successful helicopter bucket drops that help mitigate fire spread along the top, alongside sprinklers and containment lines established around the tree's base, wherein a helicopter remains on standby for further interventions.
Oregon Firefighters Work Against Time to Save Iconic Doerner Fir Tree
Oregon Firefighters Work Against Time to Save Iconic Doerner Fir Tree
Fire crews in Oregon are urgently battling a blaze threatening one of the world's tallest and oldest trees, the Doerner Fir.
Firefighters are engaged in a critical fight to preserve the Doerner Fir, a towering 325-foot tree in Oregon, as a fire burns nearby. The fire, which began on Saturday, has already consumed approximately 50 feet of this ancient giant, estimated at over 450 years old. With more hot and dry weather conditions expected in the Coast Range, firefighters face challenges extinguishing the flames. Discussions are in place for unconventional strategies, including erecting scaffolding to access and quell flames higher up in the tree.
