July 25, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. - Lightning storm sparks new wildfires in South Central Oregon

Lightning storm sparks new wildfires in South Central Oregon

LAKEVIEW, Ore. – In the past 24 hours, South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership (SCOFMP) fire crews and resources have responded to 72 smoke reports, spanning more than 170 miles from Ft. Rock into Nevada state line.

The Crane Creek Fire is located four miles south of Lakeview, firefighters worked through the night to reduce spread using roads, dozers and natural barriers. Air support resumed retardant drops this morning and will continue today. Structures in the area are being protected by engines and crews. No structures have been lost. Located primarily on Oregon Department of Forestry-protected land, the fire was reported to be 250 acres this morning and burning in grass and brush in Crane Creek Canyon. A Oregon Department of Forestry Type 3 Incident Management Team has been ordered to manage the Crane Creek Fire.

A summary of other fires in the area include:

·     Well Fire – Located on Bureau of Land Management Lakeview District near Crack in the Ground, reported to be 60 acres this morning. Two engines are on the scene and helitack is providing air support and the Eastern Oregon Task Force has been assigned to the incident. 

·     Fish Fire – Located on the Fremont-Winema National Forest’s Bly Ranger District, 5 miles south of Highway 140 and east of Bly, Ore., was contained at 70 acres by 8 p.m. Monday. Two crews will continue reinforcing the lines and mopping up today.

 

Lightning is expected to continue throughout Klamath and Lake counties today, with forecasts suggesting thunderstorms may persist in some areas as late as Friday. Additional resources, including engines, crews, aircraft and heavy equipment, are being brought in to support ongoing fire suppression work and respond to any new wildfire starts. 

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