Lightning fires in NE Oregon rage on

BAKER CITY, Ore. -- Tuesday evening's intense lightning activity sparked 18 fires across the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest and Oregon Department of Forestry protected lands. More fire starts are expected to flare up as temperatures rise on Wednesday.

As of 7 a.m. Wednesday Baker City fire fighting resources had contained some of the fires. Most of the fires are less than one acre in size.

The largest fire, at Cougar Ridge, is 11 miles southeast of Wallowa and has consumed more than 600 acres. A "Type II" firefighting team has been ordered to manage this fire. Type II fires are those with eight or more risk factors, including imminent threat to the safety of area residents, potential for accelerated fire spread and intensity, where air quality is a concerns, where improvements or cultural resources are threatened and where more than two responsible protection agencies have jurisdiction for incident.

A smoke column from the Meadow Mountain fire, located 14 miles east of the Northeast Oregon town of Union, was visible from the Grande Ronde valley and parts of Wallowa County early Wednesday morning.

Due to current fire conditions, forest visitors are asked to be extra cautious with fire. "Sparks from a campfire, cigarette, chainsaw or an overheated muffler can spread quickly and start a catastrophic fire during high fire danger conditions," reports the Oregon Department of Forestry.

Lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry's Northeast Oregon District have a Regulated Use Closure in effect.  Specific information on ODF's restrictions is available on the web at www.odf.state.or.us/areas/eastern/northeast/default.asp. 

For additional fire information, check with local Forest Service offices or visit the Forests' websites at www.fs.fed.us/r6/w-w.

The Oregon Department of Forestry asked that KATU viewers report unattended campfires and wildfires by calling 9-1-1.