Lightning ruled out as cause of ancient Oregon tree catching fire

Desmond Milligan · August 20

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Lightning did not cause the historic Doerner Fir Tree Fire, officials say.

Bureau of Land Management investigators said the cause of the fire has yet to be determined, but they have ruled out the possibility of lightning based on the weather in an update shared on Aug. 19.

The Doerner Fir tree fire, pictured Aug. 19 by the Bureau of Land Management.

An infrared drone flight showed that one area of heat is located about 280 feet up the tree’s trunk, where a fire is burning a cavity into the tree.

The Doerner Fir tree fire, pictured Aug. 19 by the Bureau of Land Management

As KOIN 6 News previously reported, firefighters have been trying to extinguish the fire since it was first detected on Aug. 16.

A helicopter has been dropping buckets of water to try to control the blaze. Firefighters have been unable to get close to the tree’s base due to concern over falling debris.

A close-up of the Doerner Fir tree cavity fire, pictured Aug. 19 by the Bureau of Land Management.

As weather forecasts predict hotter and drier temperatures later in the week, crews will continue monitoring the base of the tree and focusing on containment to prevent the fire from spreading.

The Doerner Fir is one of the largest coastal Douglas-fir trees in the world, and is estimated to be between 450 and 500 years old. It is one of the largest non-redwood trees.

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