Fires on ODF-Protected Lands, Aug. 22

Report as of Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016. Withers Fire – The 3,424-acre Withers Fire one mile north of Paisley is 65 percent contained. An arsonist started the fire. Officials are conducting a criminal investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call 541-947-2504. Evacuation notices in effect. For more information go to https://www.facebook.com/scofmpfireinfo. Rail Fire = The 29,097-acre Rail Fire burning 5 miles west of Unity is 30 percent contained. Sheridan Fire – The 191-acre Sheridan Fire burning 13 miles north of La Pine is 60 percent contained. Evacuation notices lifted. Rim Reservoir Fire – The 669-acre Rim Reservoir Fire burning 23 miles east of Burns Junction is 80 percent contained. This is the last report, unless significant activity occurs. Fire Statistics: Fire statistics are for the current year and the average over the past 10 years for the 16 million acres of private and public forestland protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry. When fire activity increases, the latest information might not be included in the statistics. January 1, 2016, through yesterday: Lightning-caused fires: 61 fires burned 2,338 acres; Human-caused fires: 486 fires burned 1,964 acres; Total: 547 fires burned 4,302 acres. 10-year average (for this period of the year): Lightning-caused fires: 256 fires burned 28,234 acres; Human-caused fires: 449 fires burned 4,393 acres; Total: 705 fires burned 32,627 acres. For info on breaking fires, go to the department’s wildfire blog.