BAKER CITY, Ore. (AP) -- Rain and cool weather have all but extinguished three wildfires that were allowed to burn unchecked through the Eagle Cap Wilderness in northeastern Oregon since July.
The fires were allowed to burn under a Forest Service policy that permits forest managers to watch, but not fight, lightning-caused blazes burning in remote areas, said Nick Lunde, a fire management officer for the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
The Jim White Ridge fire burned about 521 acres on the ridge between the Minam and Little Minam Rivers. Fire observers saw a few tendrils of smoke wafting above the ridge last week, but the fire is likely out after weekend rains, Lunde said.
The Hazel 2 fire, several miles southeast of Jim White Ridge, scorched 345 acres, and the Goat Mountain fire burned about one acre several miles north of the Minam. Neither blaze has shown smoke for at least 10 days, and although Lunde has not deemed any of the three blazes out, he doubts any will grow.
