Storms touch off wildfires in Central Oregon

Published 10:52 am Monday, August 17, 2015

Firefighters on Wednesday were responding to wildfires across the region, many of which resulted from lighting that accompanied thunderstorms Tuesday.

The largest is a 100-acre lightning-caused wildfire near Twickenham, approximately 14 miles southeast of Fossil, according to a news release from the Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center. That fire, incident 177, is burning in juniper, grass and brush on both private and Bureau of Land Management land. Fire engines and smokejumpers are fighting the wildfire.

Most Popular

In the Deschutes National Forest, incident 172 is burning approximately 9 miles west of Sunriver and 10 miles south of Mount Bachelor. The 7-acre fire is in timber and brush, the dispatch center said. Firefighters are hiking into the fire and a helicopter is responding. The cause of the fire is undetermined.

Firefighters are also responding to small fires in single trees touched off by lightning strikes in the Deschutes and Ochoco national forests and on BLM land in the Prineville District.

The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for much of Central Oregon through 8 p.m. Friday, according to the dispatch center. The warning indicates that the weather forecast — strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures — would fan wildfires.

Marketplace