Fire crews in Oregon face a daunting task as they strive to save the Doerner Fir, a towering tree celebrated for both its height and age, from a persistent fire that ignited over the weekend.
Oregon’s Legendary Doerner Fir Under Siege from Devastating Blaze
Oregon’s Legendary Doerner Fir Under Siege from Devastating Blaze
Firefighters scramble against time to protect one of the tallest trees on Earth from encroaching flames in Oregon.
The Doerner Fir, measuring over 325 feet (99 meters) and estimated to be around 450 years old, has already suffered the loss of approximately 50 feet from the conflagration, which poses a threat to its esteemed status in global height rankings. As hot and dry conditions continue to plague Oregon’s Coast Range, firefighters have resorted to unconventional methods to tackle the blaze, including the construction of scaffolding aimed at dousing flames perched higher on the tree.
The fire's cause is still undetermined, with lightning being ruled out. However, an infrared drone evaluated the situation on Tuesday, revealing no active flames or smoke at the tree's apex, despite detecting heat within a trunk cavity approximately 280 feet up. Megan Harper, a spokesperson for the federal Bureau of Land Management, expressed concern over the fire's impact on the tree’s stature in height registers. “We've lost about 50 feet of it, just from fire and pieces falling out,” she disclosed to ABC News, while acknowledging the enduring splendor of the tree.
Fortunately, experts assert that complete destruction of the Doerner Fir is unlikely. Harper explained that the tree is so massive that it would take considerable time for it to burn through entirely. The Coos Forest Protective Association revealed that helicopter bucket drops have been successful in diminishing fire activity near the top, while sprinklers and containment lines have been established around the base, with a helicopter standing by in readiness.
The fire's cause is still undetermined, with lightning being ruled out. However, an infrared drone evaluated the situation on Tuesday, revealing no active flames or smoke at the tree's apex, despite detecting heat within a trunk cavity approximately 280 feet up. Megan Harper, a spokesperson for the federal Bureau of Land Management, expressed concern over the fire's impact on the tree’s stature in height registers. “We've lost about 50 feet of it, just from fire and pieces falling out,” she disclosed to ABC News, while acknowledging the enduring splendor of the tree.
Fortunately, experts assert that complete destruction of the Doerner Fir is unlikely. Harper explained that the tree is so massive that it would take considerable time for it to burn through entirely. The Coos Forest Protective Association revealed that helicopter bucket drops have been successful in diminishing fire activity near the top, while sprinklers and containment lines have been established around the base, with a helicopter standing by in readiness.
