July 24, 2017 at 9:00 P.M.

Multiple New Lightning Starts in South Central Oregon

LAKEVIEW, Ore. – South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership (SCOFMP) continues to respond to multiple lightning fires and watch for new starts as thunderstorms continue throughout the management area. 

In the past 24 hours, wildland fire resources responded to over 50 fire dispatches. Below is a quick summary of the larger fires in the area. Additional resources including engines, crews, aircraft and heavy equipment are being pre-positioned in anticipation of more lightning fires in the coming days and as conditions dry out and warm up.

·         Fish Fire – Located on the Fremont-Winema National Forest’s Bly Ranger District, 5 miles south of Highway 140 and east of Bly, Ore. has been mapped at 70 acres. Engines, SEATS (Single Engine Air Tankers) and crews made significant progress, constructing line around 100% of the Fish Fire by 8:00 p.m. Monday.

·         Crane Creek Fire – Located primarily on Oregon Department of Forestry protected land, 4 miles southeast from Lakeview. The fire is currently 100 acres and burning in grass and brush in Crane Creek Canyon. Dozers are constructing line around the fire and air resources are delivering retardant to reduce spread. Structures in the area are being protected by engines and crews.

·         Wildcat Fire – Located 10 miles northeast of Paisley, Ore. is estimated at 10 acres. Engines have responded and will be working the fire into the night.

·         Sage Hen Fire – Located south of Adel, Ore. off of Highway 140. Firefighters are responding to a new lightning-caused fire. Size is currently unknown.

·         Coglan Buttes Fire – Located on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Lakeview District east of Highway 31 between Valley Falls and Paisley was suppressed at 90 acres and is contained.

Lightning activity is expected to remain high throughout South Central Oregon through Tuesday, with forecasts indicating that thunderstorms may persist in some areas as late as Friday.

South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership is an interagency fire management program that provides comprehensive wildland fire service to south central Oregon and northwest Nevada. The partnership strives to achieve a more efficient, effective and integrated interagency fire management program for all participating agencies on the land administered and protected by each agency.

Participating agencies include: Fremont-Winema National Forest, Lakeview District BLM (Bureau of Land Management), Sheldon-Hart Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Crater Lake National Park and Klamath-Lake District ODF (Oregon Department of Forestry).

For more information, contact Fire Information Officer, Sarah Saarloos with the South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership at 541-219-0515 or ssaarloos@fs.fed.us