Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes ofwebsite accessibility

Forest Service: 2,800 lightning strikes sparked 163 new wildfires in Oregon


The Goodpasture Fire burns near Vida, Ore., July 16, 2018. (Photos courtesy of Oregon Department of Forestry)
The Goodpasture Fire burns near Vida, Ore., July 16, 2018. (Photos courtesy of Oregon Department of Forestry)
Facebook Share IconTwitter Share IconEmail Share Icon

ROSEBURG, Ore. - An overhead team will take command Wednesday of the 21 confirmed wildfires burning on the Tiller Ranger District of the Umpqua National Forest, land managers said Tuesday.

Northwest Incident Management Team 6 includes staff from the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and other agencies with experience managing complex wildland fire situations.

The fires on the Tiller District are among the 163 new confirmed fires sparked by the 2,800 lightning strikes that have peppered the state since Friday morning, the USDA Forest Service says.


"Fire danger indices are high enough that fire starts could challenge initial attack resources," the Forest Service cautioned on Twitter.

In Southwest Oregon, those fires include the Garner Complex in Josephine County. The Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team 2, led by Incident Commander Chris Cline, took command of those fires Tuesday. The local Oregon Department of Forestry continues to lead the fight against the Wagner Creek Complex in southern Oregon.

None of those fires are threatening homes.

In Central Oregon, firefighters are working the lightning-caused Cemetery Fire east of Prineville.

"Challenges today: access, heavy fuel, high temps, very low relative humidity, and afternoon wind," Central Oregon Interagency Fire said on Twitter. "Over 100 on scene and more resources ordered!"

Some people in the McKenzie River corridor saw smoke and firefighting helicopters Monday as state forestry crews worked the Goodpasture Fire north of Vida.

Firefighters contained the 6 acre fire.

And the Silver Creek Fire in Oregon's popular Silver Creek State Falls now stands at 55 percent contained.

Investigators now believe the fire - which first put up noticeable smoke July 12 before fire crews located the blaze and attacked it the next day - actually started June 18 as a result of lightning.

"The ignition went undetected for several weeks as the fire smoldered until fuel and weather conditions allowed it to grow," state parks officials said Tuesday.

MORE | Viewer video of firefighting aircraft | SHARE YOURS

Loading ...