Firefighters in Oregon are actively engaged in efforts to protect the Doerner Fir, one of the tallest and oldest trees globally. This fir tree, standing over 325 feet tall and estimated to be around 450 years old, has experienced the loss of approximately 50 feet due to an ongoing fire that ignited last Saturday. Concerns have been raised about how this damage could affect its status in global height rankings.
As forecasts predict continued hot and dry weather in Oregon’s Coast Range, firefighters face challenges in extinguishing the blaze. They have explored various methods for fire suppression, including the potential construction of scaffolding to access and extinguish flames at higher elevations on the tree.
The origin of the fire remains unknown, although lightning as a cause has been dismissed. On Tuesday, an infrared drone survey revealed no flames or smoke at the top of the tree, but it did identify heat in a cavity located about 280 feet up the trunk, according to Megan Harper from the federal Bureau of Land Management.
Harper indicated that the fire might influence the tree’s ranking in height assessments, noting a significant loss of 50 feet from the top due to the fire’s effects. However, she emphasized that there is no immediate risk of the tree completely burning down, stating that its substantial mass means it would take a considerable amount of time for it to incinerate fully.
The Coos Forest Protective Association reported that aerial operations, such as helicopter bucket drops, have been effective in decreasing fire activity at the tree’s upper regions. Additionally, ground-based efforts have included the establishment of sprinklers and containment lines around the tree’s base, with a helicopter prepared for further support if necessary.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czxp4x1ykwpo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss