A smoky haze along the Oregon Coast could be seen nearly border to border Tuesday, August 5, as several wildfires, caused by lightning strikes, burn in the state. Here is an update from the Oregon Department of Forestry as of Tuesday, August 05, 2014 – Large Fires within ODF protection: New large fires: None reported. Updates: Southwest Oregon District: Beaver Complex (Salt Creek and Oregon Gulch Fires): The 155 acre Salt Creek Fire is 87% contained. This lightning caused fire 20 miles northwest of Medford started July 30. The Oregon Gulch Fire covering 36,568 acres (9,464 in California) is 30% contained. Lightning also caused this fire, 15 miles east of Ashland, on July 30. Personnel and Equipment: 61 crews, 37 dozers, 25 water tenders, and 1,573 personnel. Voluntary evacuation now underway in some areas of Jackson and Klamath counties. Buildings: 270 homes and 50 outbuildings are threatened; 6 homes were destroyed. More information: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4034/ Northeast Oregon District: 5 Mile Fire: a 4,000 acre fire is 5% contained. It started August 3 and is 20 miles northeast of Enterprise and 2 miles south of Imnaha. Central Oregon District: South Fork Complex (Murderers Creek South and Buck Fork Fires): these July 31 lightning caused fires cover 28,800 acres are 15% contained (Murderers Creek covers over 23,000 acres.) Haystack Complex – 100% contained (included Haystack Fire, Throop Fire, Steet Fire, Hog Ridge Fire, School House Fire, Beard Canyon Fire, Stahl Fire). Fires on other jurisdictions in Oregon: More information on these fires can be found at: http://nwccweb.us/index.aspx and http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/. OTHER FIRE INFORMATION: ODF maintains a blog at http://wildfireoregondeptofforestry.blogspot.com/, which includes breaking news on wildfires statewide, along with current fire statistics, and a frequently updated Twitter feed at https://twitter.com/ORDeptForestry. For information on wildfires in other jurisdictions within Oregon, go to the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center website, http://www.nwccweb.us/ and to the national Incident Information System website at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/. Statewide air quality index readings are available at http://www.deq.state.or.us/aqi/index.aspx.
