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Oregon town prepares to evacuate as wildfire, eclipse loom

By Ed Adamczyk
The Milli Fire in central Oregon had grown to more than 3,000 acres by Friday, and is one of several wildfires burning in the area. Image courtesy of Central Oregon Fire Information Office/Facebook
The Milli Fire in central Oregon had grown to more than 3,000 acres by Friday, and is one of several wildfires burning in the area. Image courtesy of Central Oregon Fire Information Office/Facebook

Aug. 18 (UPI) -- Fire officials have ordered about 1,200 people living in central Oregon to get ready to evacuate due to a 3,000-acre wildfire.

The Milli Fire grew from 300 acres on Wednesday to 3,000 on Thursday because of high winds, pushing back firefighters. The fire in Deschutes County now threatens 434 structures, The Oregonian reported on Friday.

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More than 1,000 people living in Sisters, Ore., have been advised to prepare for evacuation, officials said.

Roads have been closed in the area, and additional wildfires have started in the vicinity or Oregon's Crater Lake -- two in the Diamond Lake Ranger District and one in the Three Sisters Wilderness.

State fire marshals reported that a fire near the Warm Springs Indian reservation was put out but restarted by an ember. Crater Lake National Park remains open but some trails are closed.

The Central Oregon Fire Chiefs Association has banned the use of campfires within its three-county jurisdiction.

The wildfires come as the area hosts thousands of tourists, many going to camp sites, to observe the total eclipse of the sun on Monday.

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