Oregon wildfires cause fire-damaged tree to fall on state trooper's vehicle
'These areas are deemed unsafe,' police said
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Dash cam footage video from a trooper's patrol car in Oregon captured the moment a fire-damaged tree fell on his vehicle.
The trooper was responding to a call when his vehicle was struck by a falling tree that crossed state highway 22 in a level three evacuation area, police said. In the video, the tree appeared to suddenly descend onto the highway under the cover of an acrid yellow-green smog that officials say could linger for weeks.
"Our Trooper was lucky and wasn’t injured, but it could have been so much worse," Oregon State Police wrote on Facebook.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}DRONE FOOTAGE SHOWS WILDFIRE-SCORCHED OREGON NEIGHBORHOOD
Authorities used the incident as a warning towards residents on how evacuation areas are still closed to the public.
"These areas are deemed unsafe," the law enforcement agency wrote.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The patrol car after a fire-damaged tree fell onto a trooper's vehicle (Oregon State Police)
WEST COAST WILDFIRES: 1 IN 10 OREGON EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS ARE FOR ASTHMA
Local law enforcement, as well as the Oregon National Guard and Oregon Department of Transportation, "are just a few of the entities manning roadblocks around the state," police added.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Residents are advised to contact their county directly for more information on evacuation area access.