A smoke column is again towering over the Pole Creek Fire this afternoon, and wind is blowing smoke into Sisters.
“We’ve taken quite a few calls today that people are concerned about the smoke," said Katie Lighthall, spokeswoman for the interagency team managing the fire.
Higher temperatures and lower humidity than in recent days is causing the smoke plume, she said. Updated acreage and containment numbers for the fire will be available this evening. Air quality at 2 p.m. in Sisters was in the moderate range, according to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.
As of this morning the fire – which started Sunday – had burned 5,043 acres and was 5 percent contained. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Cold mornings over the last three days have caused the smoke to drop into Sisters, making for what the DEQ considers unhealthy air. The trend is likely to continue into next week.
