Blue Mountain Fire Information: August Lightning Update

Jamie Knight, ODF – (541)786-2039

Joani Bosworth, Umatilla National Forest – (541)278-3722

Katy Gray, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest – (541)523-1246

La Grande, OR, Pendleton, OR & Baker City, OR: Recent lightning activity across the Blue Mountains has sparked several news fires.  Both lookouts and aerial reconnaissance have reported a total of 31 new lightning caused fires thus far across the Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch Center foot print. Including:

-          NE Oregon ODF: 9 new fires

-          Wallowa-Whitman National Forest: 12 new fires

-          Umatilla National Forest: 9 new fires

-          Washington DNR: 1 new fire

Additional hold-over fires are possible as the conditions are dry and increased winds are expected throughout the week. Isolated thunderstorms and increasing winds are expected over the next 4 days.

Fire officials want to remind everyone that the current fire danger rating remains at EXTREME and Public Use Restrictions involving campfires and chainsaw use are in effect. Regulated closures are in effect on State and private lands protected by Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) in northeast and central Oregon.  On Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman National Forest lands Public Use Restrictions are in effect, including campfire restrictions and use of chainsaws.

Visit the Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch webpage at: www.bmidc.org  or contact a local Oregon Department of Forestry or Forest Service office for more complete information.  Similar restrictions may be in effect on State and private lands protected by the Washington Department of Natural Resources (WA-DNR).  More information can be found on the WA-DNR website at: http://fortress.wa.gov/dnr/firedanger/BurnRisk.aspx .  

Additional Blue Mountain Fire information can be found at: http://bluemountainfireinfo.blogspot.com/