• Firefighters are attempting to save the Doerner Fir, one of the world's tallest trees, from an ongoing fire.
• The tree has lost about 50 feet in height due to the blaze, which has raised concerns about its global rankings.
• The cause of the fire remains unknown, but lightning has been ruled out.

The Doerner Fir in Oregon, a coastal Douglas Fir standing over 325 feet tall and estimated to be more than 450 years old, is facing serious threats from an internal fire that has persisted since Saturday. Firefighters are struggling to extinguish the blaze, which is concentrated about 280 feet up within the tree's trunk. Megan Harper, a spokesperson for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), noted that while there are no active flames at the top, there remain hot spots within the trunk that are difficult to access, complicating firefighting efforts, according to Los Angeles Times, BBC, and Indiatimes.

The Doerner Fir has already lost roughly 50 feet of height due to the blaze, as reported by Harper. Concerns are growing regarding the tree's standing in global height rankings, with implications possibly affecting its status as one of the tallest trees in the world. Fire suppressants, including helicopter bucket drops and sprinklers at the base of the tree, have been deployed, but the interior burn has presented unique challenges for firefighting crews. Officials are contemplating additional measures, such as building scaffolding to access the fire, according to CBS News and Indiatimes.

The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation, with early speculation of a lightning strike ruled out based on weather data. Harper mentioned there is a likelihood of human involvement given the tree's accessibility via a remote trail, though no assumptions are being made at this time. “Fire in the Oregon Coast Range is actually pretty rare,” she noted, highlighting the unique circumstances surrounding this incident. Emergency services remain focused on the conservation of this historic tree, described by Harper as still being “a magnificent tree,” despite the ongoing damage, as stated by CBS News, BBC, and Los Angeles Times.