A fire burning 12 miles southwest of Maupin in Wasco County is currently being managed, in different areas, by fire resources from the Oregon Department of Forestry, Bureau of Indian Affairs fire protection and independent private landowners.
The Nelson fire, also referred to as the White Lightning fire, is a fast-moving blaze which preliminary estimates place at 850-900 acres on Wednesday afternoon. Lightning was determined to be the cause of the fire. ODF’s Central Oregon District responded with three engines, two contractor engines, bulldozer support from both ODF and landowners, and aerial support from three air tankers and one helicopter.
The fire occurred in an area with three distinct landowner types: the majority of the fire is occurring on private land outside of an ODF-affiliated protection district while ODF crews are working to keep the fire from moving onto ODF-protected land. On another boundary of the fire, BIA crews are seeking to keep the fire from moving onto Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs-owned lands.
Kevin Weeks
Oregon Department of Forestry