Oregon Public Broadcasting

November came early to south-central Oregon.

Monday night, wind gusts near Oakridge picked up to over 35 miles per hour.

That doesn’t help the 1000 firefighters battling the Tumblebug Complex of fires.

But along with the wind, came rain and some snow at higher altitudes. Both may help calm the 12,000-acre fire.

Currently, the fire is just 18-percent contained – and has been blowing thick smoke across the central part of the state.

Tim Yurkiewicz is a firefighter with the Chemult Ranger District.  He says the smoke was even worse last week.

Tim Yurkiewicz: “It was bad last week because of the way the wind’s direction was blowing. And, actually, we’re getting into some unstable atmosphere right now which will push it around more. It will let it clear out, and it will just mix with heavier winds, and get pushed away.”

In Bend, the Department of Air Quality has labeled conditions as “unhealthy” due to smoke from the Tumblebug Complex, and two other wildfires burning near Roseburg.