Firefighters in Oregon, USA are working tirelessly to save a towering and ancient tree named Doerner Fir, one of the tallest and oldest trees in the world. The tree’s canopy has been burning since August 17, with the cause of the fire still unknown.
The giant fir tree stands at an impressive height of 325 feet (99 meters) and is estimated to be over 450 years old. Officials have reported that around 50 feet (approximately 15 meters) of the tree has been damaged by the fire, potentially endangering its ranking among the world’s tallest trees.
Despite firefighting efforts, the tree’s canopy was still burning on August 20, though the fire has been contained to the tree itself. The Coos Forest Protective Association’s assistant forester, Brett Weidemiller, mentioned that the tree is located in a forest near Coquille, Oregon. Personnel are using helicopters, drones, and ground sprinkler systems to protect the tree and prevent the fire from spreading.
While the cause of the fire remains unknown, Weidemiller stated that lightning has been ruled out as a possibility. He mentioned, “We have tracking mechanisms and timestamps to monitor lightning in the area. There were no signs of lightning at the time of the fire.”
Weidemiller highlighted that the tree has a trunk diameter of 11.5 feet (about 3.5 meters), making it one of the tallest non-redwood trees in the world.
Megan Harper, a spokesperson for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, mentioned to the BBC that an infrared drone detected no active flames or smoke at the tree’s canopy on Tuesday, August 19. However, it identified heat within a cavity about 280 feet (approximately 85 meters) up the trunk.
Harper told ABC News that the fire could impact the tree’s global ranking in terms of height. She expressed concerns over the loss of approximately 50 feet (about 15 meters) due to the fire and falling debris. Harper noted that this height loss was a result of the burning canopy, adding that it remains uncertain how much the tree will grow back, but it still stands as a majestic tree.
She reassured that there is no immediate risk of the tree being completely burned. “The tree is so massive and heavy that it will take time for the fire to burn through it,” she said.