Oregon fires put homes in peril

MADRAS, Ore. - Dozens of homes remained in peril Wednesday as wildfires in the High Cascades Complex continued to resist control by crews on the ground and in the air.

Even as the fires raged over additional acreage Wednesday, however, fire managers lifted the closure on the Lower Deschutes River that had kept boaters off the water.

No homes have been lost to the complex of fires raging across the eastern flanks of the Cascades. The fires, now 25 percent contained, have burned over 141 square miles of timber and grass, over 90,000 acres.

Near Sisters, the 485-acre Shadow Lake fire is uncontained but currently burning entirely within the Mount Washington Wilderness. Fire managers expect smoke to be visible from Sisters for the next several days as they work to monitor and confine the fire to the wilderness area.

As pockets of fuel continue to burn, smoke will be expected to be visible from the greater Sisters area for several days. the fire is being managed with a monitor/confine/contain strategy.

A quarter acre fire burning in the Mount Thielsen Wilderness Area is also being monitored and contained.

Near Mount Hood, structures remain in peril from the 1,664 acre Dollar Lake fire.

The Hancock Fire, which has burned over 90 square miles in north central Oregon, is 85 percent contained but continues to threaten homes and other buildings.