McCarty Fire burns in the Fremont-Winema National Forest. Sparked by lightning, the fire has grown to 8-acres. Taylor Butte Fire (not pictured) maintains at 293-acres and is now 75% contained. Full containment expected by Saturday evening. Submitted… — McCarty Fire burns in the Fremont-Winema National Forest. Sparked by lightning, the fire has grown to 8-acres. Taylor Butte Fire (not pictured) maintains at 293-acres and is now 75% contained. Full containment expected by Saturday evening. Submitted photo.

Chiloquin, Ore. – Wet storms over the past two days have continued to moderate the Taylor Butte Fire on the Fremont-Winema National Forest Chiloquin Ranger District.

The lightning sparked fire is 293 acres and will be 75 percent contained by the end of today. Full containment is expected by 6 p.m. Saturday.

The fire is fully lined and containment is being tied to mop-up activities towards the interior of the fire.

Following that accomplishment, the Taylor Butte Fire will be in patrol status.

“Conditions on the Taylor Butte Fire have been ideal over the past several days, with the dry weather patter followed by rain over the past two days,” said Chiloquin and Chemult District Ranger Judd Lehman. “The fire was naturally moderated and able to have a positive impact on the landscape this week.”

Smoke from the McCarty Fire in the Fremont-Winema National Forest. Submitted photo.

Additionally, the McCarty Fire on the Chemult Ranger District, burning in a remote area of the district, was another lightning fire utilizing a similar strategy to Taylor Butte this week, but on a smaller scale.

While there were hopes for the McCarty Fire to be able to treat a larger area, conditions were not dry enough. The small fire was expanded to 8 acres on Wednesday afternoon and is currently in patrol status.

The McCarty Fire burned small fuels and downed logs in the area. When it reached the meadow, the fire stopped naturally due to the green up of annual grasses.

Both fires were mild intensity and provided an opportunity to reintroduce fire to the landscape in a strategic, measured way. Resource specialists analyzed the area surrounding both fires, identified values and risk and opportunities, factored in weather conditions and forecasts and formulated a multi-phased plan to work with the fire.

Forest managers are working with partners and nearby landowners on this fire.

Weather forecasts are indicating a warming and drying trend over coming days, which may result in visible smokes from unidentified lightning fires. Firefighters are prepared to address any wildfires discovered in the coming weeks.

Area residents and visitors can report suspected wildfires by calling the Lakeview Interagency Fire Center at 541-947-6315.

Even though there is still snowpack and the weather has been cold and wet in recent weeks, fire season is rapidly approaching. Forest visitors are asked to be careful with fire and anything that can throw a spark.

Campfires should never be left unattended and should be dead out before leaving. This means drowned with water, stirred and be cold to the touch with no warm spots.

For more information on the Fremont-Winema National Forest, visit www.fs.usda.gov/fremont-winema, follow the Forest on Twitter @FremontWinemaNF or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/R6FWNF.

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