Fire crews on alert as Lava Fire smolders

CHRISTMAS VALLEY, Ore. - Firefighters are watching a wildfire burning in a remote and rocky lava flow in central Oregon rather than putting crews at risk directly attack the flames.

Lightning sparked the Lava Fire on Monday, July 23, on a wilderness study area north of Christmas Valley and northeast of Fort Rock.

Winds and warm temperatures pushed the blaze across 130 acres over the next two days, putting lots of smoke up in the air.

But the remote, rugged terrain has made it difficult for firefighters to directly attack the fire.

Crews are instead using a modified suppression strategy to handle the blaze, the Bureau of Land Management said Thursday, allowing the fire to burn within the confines of the lava flow. Crews are in place to fight the flames if the fire spreads beyond the lava flow.

The fire isn't being left entirely alone, however: three single-engine planes dropped a half dozen loads of retardant on the fire to slow its growth to the north.

The fire is burning in the Fort Rock Fire Management Plan Area, which governs how natural and prescribed fires are managed there.