Aerial fire retardant has been approved for use in the Mount Hood National Forest to battle the Whiskey Creek fire, the U.S. Forest Service announced Sunday.
Chemicals could be dropped in and around the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness area’s boundary within the national forest, where the Whiskey Creek fire has consumed 891 acres. Aerial retardant drops are prohibited in areas designated for protected species, cultural resources or waterways.
In a press release announcing the approval, a Forest Service spokesperson said heavy equipment such as bulldozers may also be used to fight wildfires, including in the Willamette National Forest for the Pyramid fire.
These actions, which the Forest Service called “aggressive,” are used only when they are the most effective tool to protect lives, property and valuable natural resources, including old-growth forests and habitats for threatened and endangered species. They also enhance firefighter safety, the Forest Service spokesperson said.
Approvals are issued on a …