Fire crews in Oregon are on high alert as a fire threatens the Doerner Fir, one of the tallest trees in the world. Towering at over 325 feet and believed to be around 450 years old, this tree has lost significant height, with flames taking away about 50 feet of its top. The blaze, which has been active since Saturday, faced challenges due to ongoing hot and dry weather in the area, making it tough for firefighters to contain.
To combat the flames, officials are considering unique strategies, such as constructing scaffolding to help address the fire in higher areas of the tree. Although the cause of the fire is still undetermined, it has been confirmed that lightning was not to blame. Recent drone inspections revealed that while there were no flames or smoke at the tree's peak, heat was detected inside a section of the trunk at around 280 feet.
Megan Harper, spokesperson for the Bureau of Land Management, highlighted the ongoing risks to the tree's height ranking amidst the fire's impact. However, she reassured that the tree wouldn't completely burn due to its immense size and mass. Meanwhile, the Coos Forest Protective Association has been active, using helicopter bucket drops to lessen fire intensity and establishing sprinklers and containment lines at the base, all while a helicopter remains ready to assist.
