Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Wildfire east of Gov’t Camp forces some to evacuate

From KATU - PORTLAND, Ore. - The White Lightning Complex fire east of Government Camp and on the Warm Springs Reservation has forced several people to evacuate and is now more than 24,000 acres in size.

The fire is five times bigger than it was Friday and is only 10 percent contained. Dry brush is fueling the blaze. Firefighters dumped water on the flames from the air on Monday but efforts to fight the fire are being frustrated by bone-dry conditions.

100 rafters were stranded on the Deschutes River over the weekend. While some escaped, others floated through the night to safety.

Three structures have burned and another 25 are threatened.