Firefighters pulled containment lines together on the Beals Creek Fire overnight and will work throughout the day Wednesday to strengthen those trails before calling the 80-acre fire fully contained. Crews have begun mopping up around the perimeter of the fire to prevent further spread.
Resources on the fire today include 108 firefighters, seven engines and four water tenders. Two helicopters are standing by should fire activity increase and test containment lines this afternoon.
The fire was reported at about 10:30 p.m. Monday, July 4th in a remote location between Canyonville and Days Creek. Firefighters from Douglas Forest Protective Association (DFPA) and surrounding rural fire departments discovered a five acre fire spreading rapidly in one-year old logging slash, timber and young trees. By Tuesday morning the fire had grown to about 55 acres and had peaked to its current size of 80 acres late Tuesday afternoon.
Cooperating agencies on the fire include DFPA, Coos Forest Protective Association, the Oregon Department of Forestry, landowners and several rural fire departments.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Anyone with information regarding the cause of the fire is asked to contact DFPA at (541) 672-6507 or the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office at (541) 440-4471.
Follow DFPA on twitter at www.twitter.com/DouglasFPA or at their website at http://www.dfpa.net/
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Tom Fields
Public Information Officer
Douglas Forest Protective Association