A popular trail along the McKenzie River will remain closed through the weekend. Crews are fighting the 2 1/2 acre Blue Top Fire near Blue Pool and Tamolitch Falls east of Eugene.

Oregon has had a quiet summer so far in terms of wildfires. A little rain and cooler temperatures kept fires danger moderate. That’s changing. is with the McKenzie River Ranger District

Joanie Schmidgall: “Temperatures are starting to get hot and the forest is starting to dry out and with that fire danger does increase. So we really want the public to be aware of that and to be checking conditions before they go up to the woods, before they go on a camping trip.”

Schmidgall says crews were able to get to the Blue Top Fire quickly because a hiker spotted it and informed the Ranger Station. She says fire danger is likely to get worse in the northwest as the summer progresses.

