Wildfire Watch, June 2

Forestry Fire Update from ODF. Lightning, mostly accompanied by precipitation – heavy in some areas, moved through much of Oregon (western Oregon from south to north, Willamette Valley, Columbia Gorge/northern Oregon, north- and central-eastern Oregon, and central Oregon) during the evening of May 31 and early morning on June 1. As a few examples, the South Cascade District (Linn and western Lane counties) estimates receiving approximately 50 strikes; Douglas Forest Protective Association estimated they received approximately 800 strikes; and dozens of strikes were reported by the Southwest Oregon District in the Josephine County area. Numerous small lightning-start fires were and are still being reported on various forestland ownerships, none of which at this time are near 10 acres or larger, and initial attack of those fire starts has been ongoing since the onset of the lightning. ODF will be continuing to use all available detection resources today, from engine patrols to camera dete ction where available, to seek out any possible additional fire starts from this recent lightning storm.