Passing thunderstorms ignite multiple fires

POMEROY–Fire crews in northeast Oregon and southeast Washington are responding to reports of smoke and fire following passing thunderstorms Saturday and Sunday, August 20 and 21. Approximately 40 incidents have been reported so far to the Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch Center and John Day Interagency Dispatch Center as of Monday, August 22.

Local initial attack resources have been busy responding to these incidents with support from aerial resources. Additional smoke reports are likely to be detected throughout the next few days as temperatures warm and fire activity increases. Aerial reconnaissance, nighttime thermal detection aircraft, and fire lookouts are assisting with detection efforts.

Current fire danger across the Blue Mountains ranges from HIGH to EXTREME.

As fire danger increases, restrictions are put in place to reduce the risk of a human-caused wildfire by prohibiting certain activities, such as campfires, chainsaw use, off-road driving, and smoking. Public Use Restrictions are in effect involving campfires, chainsaw use, off-road driving, and smoking. For lands protected by Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) in northeast and central Oregon, regulated closures have been implemented. Please check with your local Oregon Department of Forestry office for PURs on lands protected by ODF. Similar restrictions may also 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://www.dnr.wa.gov/.

Please call 911 to report a wildfire.