Weekend summer storms may bring new blazes and fan existing flames in Northeast Oregon
By Joe Hathaway on Saturday, August 3rd, 2024 in Columbia Basin News Northeastern Oregon News
NORTHEAST OREGON – (Release by Wallowa-Whitman National Forest) The Oregon Northeast is in the path of another summer storm that will bring high winds and lightning across an already hot and dry landscape.
This weekend’s forecast may bring slightly cooler weather, in the mid 90’s, but it brings with it a high chance of dry lightning with a possible lightning density similar to the storm that slammed the Blues two weeks ago.
“At this point in the fire season, every lightning strike is a potential fire,” said Shaun McKinney, WWNF Supervisor. “We would like the community to know we are going to address every single fire with a full-suppression standpoint due to the current conditions.”
The late-July storm started about 35 new fires across the Wallowa-Whitman. Fire managers moved quickly with ground crews, aircraft, and smoke jumpers and were able to stop a majority of the fires before they could spread.
Some of the notable remaining fires being managed by WWNF Firefighters are the Lone Pine Fire at 225 acres (Hells Canyon NRA), Devil’s Gulch Fire at 48 acres (Wallowa Ranger District), and the Mahogany Fire at 30 acres (Hells Canyon NRA) Fire crews report favorable efforts in their suppression.
“We have to prioritize fires based on values at risk and spread potential with the limited resources we have in the system,” said Joel McCraw, WWNF Deputy Fire Staff.
Our preparedness and use of resources supports a strategic approach to managing suppression efforts and properly delegating firefighting efforts.
With current lightning predictions, we need the public’s help in respecting closures and fire restrictions to avoid any human-caused starts. The WWNF remains in public use restrictions and IFPL4.
