Austin Fire Stalls at 12,610 Acres as Investigators Trace Oregon Wildfire to Human Activity

AUSTIN, Oregon — Whatever investigators ultimately determine, the scale of the resulting fire is already established across the landscape. From its Aug.

9 ignition, the Austin Fire advanced across approximately 12,610 acres of the Mt. Hood National Forest before September rain interrupted its expansion.

The fire forced evacuations, closed transportation and recreation corridors and required a response involving hundreds of firefighters during an already demanding Oregon wildfire season.

Large fires continue burning across the state, and fire officials have cautioned that September precipitation does not eliminate the underlying threat.