Heat and lightning are keeping firefighters busy

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Oregon firefighters expect a few more days of scrambling to put out a series of small fires caused by lightning.

About 1,400 lightning strikes hit the state in the 24 hours that ended at midnight Monday - starting 35 more small fires. The day before, fire officials said, more than 6,000 strikes started 122 small fires.

Fire officials reported Tuesday that most fire activity was in check, though, and more humidity - and perhaps rain - was due by Thursday.

A heat wave in late July raised temperatures into the 90s and over the 100 mark, so Oregon forests are dry. The lightning started late last week.

Most of the small blazes have been put out quickly, firefighters said.

The large fire giving them the most trouble started last week in Southern Oregon.

It was burning within nearly 8 square miles east of Roseburg, forcing authorities to close a stretch of Oregon 138 along the North Umpqua River, a destination for fishermen.

"It's known as the graduate school of steelhead fishing," said Patricia Lee, one of three owners of the Steamboat Inn.

The inn closed last week. On Monday, a few residents left summer homes in the fire area.

The canyon is steep and the forest thick, impeding firefighters.

U.S. Forest Service spokesman Bernie Pineda said firefighters relied on helicopters to scoop water from the river and dump it on the blaze. It helped, he said, that it took the choppers only six minutes to fetch each load.

Lee said the Steamboat could reopen as early as Thursday.

"This is the absolute height of the season," she said.

Fire officials said three of eight summer homes along the stretch were occupied when the word went out Monday night that leaving would be a good idea, and all the residents left.

Fire officials said they haven't yet determined what caused the fire.
     
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