Weather aids Link fire fight

Sunday, July 13, 2:30 p.m.

Cooler temperatures and up to 1/2 inch of rain over portions of the fire area helped firefighters gain ground on the blaze Saturday night.

Firefighters have contained 80 percent of the Link Fire and will work Sunday to construct final containment lines on the western edge of the blaze. Burnout operations on Saturday were very effective at stopping fire progression, according to fire officials.

According to a release from the Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center, "National Weather Service forecasts for Central Oregon on Sunday called for partly cloudy skies, temperatures in the upper seventies to mid-eighties and northwest winds five to 15 miles per hour.

"Crews will continue to complete containment lines on the fire's western flank Sunday and patrol for spot fires around its perimeter. Mop-up operations will continue up to 500 feet into the blaze's interior along the north, east and south flanks."

The fire covers approximately 3,225 acres. No containment date has been announced.

Fire officials noted that "the Link Fire will smolder and emit smoke for months after firefighters have contained the blaze."