Multiple New Lightning-Caused Wildfires in South Central Oregon

Multiple New Lightning-Caused Wildfires in South Central Oregon

Lakeview, Ore. - Lightning storms passing through South Central Oregon have started small lightning related fires in the Fremont-Winema National Forest and Lakeview District BLM.

South Central Oregon has received approximately 960 strikes resulting in 23 confirmed incidents.

The South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership (SCOFMP) will be conducting aerial reconnaissance flights to assist with detection of new lightning related fires. The reconnaissance flights are part of the SCOFMP operating plan after lightning storms.

These fires were aggressively suppressed from the ground by numerous hand-crews, engines, dozers and water tenders. Air support included helicopters, SEATS and air tankers. They will continue water drops until dark and resume Tuesday morning.

The South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership (SCOFMP) Incident Management Team (IMT) Type 3, Leland Hunter Incident Commander (IC) with Evan Wright Incident Commander (Trainee), is managing two of these fires.

• The Medicine 2 Fire located 5 miles east of Beatty, OR remains at 4.8 acres. Crews worked hard through Sunday night and early Monday morning to complete a containment line and are now working to mop-up.
• Progress has been made on the 65 acre Mill Creek Fire. This fire is located 5 miles NE of Beatty on the north side of Spodue Mountain. The east and west sides of the perimeter have lines in place. Resources will continue work to strengthen and deepen these lines. This will create a barrier to keep the fire within the established lines.
• The management of the Gerber Flat Fire under IC Scott Havel of The Bureau of Land Management is 200 acres and still has the possibility of growth. High winds today pushed the fire toward Gerber Road. Burnout operations will continue off Gerber Road between Stan-H Springs Campground Road to the east. Law enforcement will be assisting with traffic control.
• As a precaution, we have staged additional resources from outside the SCOFMP area to assist with new fire starts.

Highway 140 between Klamath Falls and Lakeview will have increased fire traffic- Please use caution when driving between Bly and Beatty and on Gerber road.

Daily wildfire/prescribed fire information link: http://bit.ly/2sK5YHY