Firefighters made further, steady progress on the East Evans Creek Fire as crews worked through the fire area extinguishing remaining hotspots.
According to the Oregon Department of Forestry's latest update, overnight relative humidity recoveries reached the 80 to 90 percent range, and cooler temperatures created favorable conditions for mop-up operations. The fire remains at 15,580 acres and is 78% contained.
An infrared-equipped Unmanned Aircraft System mapped areas of lingering heat across the fire, helping firefighters quickly locate hotspots not visible from the ground. On the south side of the fire in the Dry Creek area, the aircraft identified a few hotspots within the 300-foot mop up zone, where crews quickly extinguished the remaining heat. Light interior smoke will continue as isolated pockets of heavy fuels slowly burn within the fire perimeter.
Firefighters are conducting daily reconnaissance of the fire, backhauling hose and equipment from areas where it is no longer needed, and completing suppression repair. Chippers also remain active, processing brush and small trees removed during suppression activities.
Today's forecast calls for warm, dry conditions with temperatures in the mid-80s to around 90 degrees, low relative humidity, and gusty afternoon breezes.
