The Dalles wildfires forces evacuations

A wildfire in The Dalles this summer was one of many that burned across the state in what turned out to be a deadly season.

(Randy L. Rasmussen/The Oregonian)

More than a dozen wildfires are burning in western Oregon fanned by unusually dry, windy conditions.

Most of them started as controlled burns late last year as part of the reforestation process after wildfire season, but they were rekindled by the weather, said Dan Postrel, chief spokesman for the Oregon Department of Forestry.

Two fires are burning on the coast between Arch Cape and Manzanita, seven fires are burning in the area of

, another fire is burning north of Shady Cove in southwest Oregon and three fires are burning around Coos Bay.

The Forestry Department expects the fires to grow into the evening, but winds are predicted to subside overnight, creating favorable firefighting conditions this weekend. The department is relying on local firefighters, inmate crews from the Department of Corrections, contracted crews and equipment, including water-dropping helicopters.

A temporary flight restriction is in place in some areas.

Forestry officials released details on these fires:

The Bone Mountain fire, which has seared 300 areas, is six miles south of Remote.

The Camas Creek fire, covering about 40 acres, is seven miles northeast of Remote.

The Shingle Mill fire, which has scorched 30 acres, is three miles east of U.S. 101, between Arch Cape and Manzanita. The nearby Falcon fire, which has spread over 50 acres, is almost out.

The 1, 2, 3 complex of fires covering 200 acres, is burning 15 miles east of Silverton.

The Green Mountain fire is burning seven miles west of Gates.

The 125-acre Alder Creek Fire is burning 16 miles north of Shady Cove.

-- Lynne Terry