As temperatures shift from cool to warm firefighters are responding to new wildfires sparked by recent thunderstorms in Central Oregon.

Fire crews were out this afternoon on five new wildfires, Jean Nelson-Dean, spokeswoman at the Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center in Prineville, said late this afternoon. “They are still very small, less than an acre,” she said.

One fire is near Black Butte, two are in the northeast corner of the Ochoco National Forest and two are south of the Maury Mountains in the Prineville District of the Bureau of Land Management.

Of the 79 reports of new wildfires started by lightning late Tuesday and early Wednesday about 30 turned out to be fires, Nelson-Dean said. The largest of the fires was three acres and all were contained.

Fire crews also are continuing to make headway today on lightning-sparked wildfires from thunderstorms earlier in the month, with containment percentages up from Wednesday.

Updates from fire officials include:

• Bridge 99 Complex Fire near Camp Sherman: 5,960 acres and 60 percent contained.

• Logging Unit Fires on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation: 10,350 acres and 30 percent contained.

• Ochoco Complex Fire near Prineville: 10,172 acres and 32 percent contained.

• Shaniko Butte Fire on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation: 40,575 acres and 80 percent contained.

• Waterman Complex Fire near Mitchell: 12,520 acres and 90 percent contained. U.S. Highway 26 between Prineville and Mitchell is fully reopened.

— Dylan J. Darling