The Doerner Fir in Oregon's Coast Range caught fire at its top, producing hotspots that firefighters extinguished and have continued to monitor. Fire crews, aided by the Bureau of Land Management's drone heat monitoring, confirmed no smoke and are watching the tree as temperatures rise. Crown damage reduced the tree's height from 327 feet to roughly 50 feet shorter, costing its status as the tallest Douglas fir. A sprinkler system now protects the tree from future fires. Investigators are still determining the ignition source, with authorities currently not suspecting lightning.
Firefighters are continuing to monitor the Doerner Fir tree following work done yesterday to extinguish remaining hotspots," the organization wrote. "No smoke has been seen today, and firefighters will continue to monitor the tree for signs of fire, especially as the weather heats up this weekend.
The recovery efforts have kept the landmark fir alive for future generations to behold, but the fire's effects are clear to behold. As Oregon Public Broadcasting's Cassandra Profita and Jule Gilfillan reported, the damage to the tree means that it is no longer the planet's tallest Douglas fir. Its height was 327 feet before it caught fire. Their reporting cites federal officials who believe that the Doerner Fir is now approximately 50 feet shorter.
Oregon Public Broadcasting also reported that the tree now has a sprinkler system in place that should help prevent future fires from harming it. As for what caused the fire, officials are still looking into that question. According to a report from Live Science, authorities believe that lightning was not behind the fire starting.
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