Firefighters in Oregon are racing to save the Doerner fir, a 325-foot-tall coastal Douglas fir and one of the tallest non-redwood trees in the world, after it caught fire last week. The blaze, reported on Saturday, continues to smoulder about 280 feet up the trunk, according to Megan Harper of the Bureau of Land Management.
The tree, estimated to be around 450 years old, is located east of Coquille. Helicopter crews managed to douse flames in the canopy on Monday, but a hot spot remains. Crews are now in observation mode to assess whether further helicopter drops are needed.
Fire officials have ruled out sending climbing crews due to safety risks from falling debris. Instead, they have established a containment line and sprinklers to prevent ground-level spread. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Harper noted that the tree's height makes it vulnerable to lightning strikes, and accumulated dry moss and bark, along with flammable pitch, have fuelled the fire. The area is closed to the public during firefighting efforts.
