[Prineville, Oregon] Eastern
Oregon received over 13,000 lightning strikes as numerous thunderstorms moved
across eastern Oregon in the last ten days.
Firefighters have taken action on seventy fires across the six million
acres of land protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) and Walker
Range Forest Patrol in the Eastern Oregon Area.
Of these seventy fires only one grew larger than ten acres, and the
majority were suppressed as single trees or less than a tenth of an acre. ODF firefighters also assisted federal
partners and rural fire departments with fires on their jurisdictions to limit
fires across the landscape. Jamie Paul,
Eastern Oregon Area Assistant Director, praised Area fire crews for their
efforts and hard work, “Responding to so many fires in such a short time
period, and keeping them small demonstrates how dedicated and aggressive ODF
firefighters are to initial attack fire suppression.”
Oregon received over 13,000 lightning strikes as numerous thunderstorms moved
across eastern Oregon in the last ten days.
Firefighters have taken action on seventy fires across the six million
acres of land protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) and Walker
Range Forest Patrol in the Eastern Oregon Area.
Of these seventy fires only one grew larger than ten acres, and the
majority were suppressed as single trees or less than a tenth of an acre. ODF firefighters also assisted federal
partners and rural fire departments with fires on their jurisdictions to limit
fires across the landscape. Jamie Paul,
Eastern Oregon Area Assistant Director, praised Area fire crews for their
efforts and hard work, “Responding to so many fires in such a short time
period, and keeping them small demonstrates how dedicated and aggressive ODF
firefighters are to initial attack fire suppression.”
In anticipation of these thunderstorms additional resources
were requested to support the District and Association personnel. These
resources included engines from local rural fire departments, the Oregon
Military Department, and ODF in western Oregon, as well as contract bull
dozers. In addition to District and Association staffing and these move-up
resources, severity aircraft specially funded by the Oregon Legislature were
instrumental in the success of initial attack during this lightning event. These aircraft, include single engine air
tankers, a heli-tack platform capable of delivering firefighters with gear
quickly to remote fires, and helicopters capable of dropping water to cool
hotspots so that ground troops have time to engage.
were requested to support the District and Association personnel. These
resources included engines from local rural fire departments, the Oregon
Military Department, and ODF in western Oregon, as well as contract bull
dozers. In addition to District and Association staffing and these move-up
resources, severity aircraft specially funded by the Oregon Legislature were
instrumental in the success of initial attack during this lightning event. These aircraft, include single engine air
tankers, a heli-tack platform capable of delivering firefighters with gear
quickly to remote fires, and helicopters capable of dropping water to cool
hotspots so that ground troops have time to engage.
Reconnaissance planes and spotters were effective in finding
fires immediately following the storms, and were utilized to provide
intelligence back to fire managers and crews as they navigated into the
fires. Detection cameras across Eastern
Oregon Area are manned with specialized lookouts trained to spot and locate
fires through this remote technology. In the Central Oregon District, detection
camera operators were responsible for discovery of approximately 20% of the
fires in the District during this lightning event. These early detections allow firefighters to
take action quickly while the fires are still small, reducing exposure for
firefighters and damage to natural resources as well as financial impacts to
landowners and Oregonians.
fires immediately following the storms, and were utilized to provide
intelligence back to fire managers and crews as they navigated into the
fires. Detection cameras across Eastern
Oregon Area are manned with specialized lookouts trained to spot and locate
fires through this remote technology. In the Central Oregon District, detection
camera operators were responsible for discovery of approximately 20% of the
fires in the District during this lightning event. These early detections allow firefighters to
take action quickly while the fires are still small, reducing exposure for
firefighters and damage to natural resources as well as financial impacts to
landowners and Oregonians.
In addition to the fires on ODF protected lands Rangeland
Fire Protection Associations, volunteer firefighting entities in Central and
Eastern Oregon’s high desert and range country, suppressed more than thirty
fires during this time period.
Fire Protection Associations, volunteer firefighting entities in Central and
Eastern Oregon’s high desert and range country, suppressed more than thirty
fires during this time period.
Year to date there have been 114 lightning fires in the
Eastern Oregon Area burning just over 1,300 acres compared to the ten year
average of 107 fires burning just over 12,000 acres. 91 human caused fires have burned 374 acres
year to date for 2019 compared to 102 fires burning 2,630 acres for the ten
year average.
Eastern Oregon Area burning just over 1,300 acres compared to the ten year
average of 107 fires burning just over 12,000 acres. 91 human caused fires have burned 374 acres
year to date for 2019 compared to 102 fires burning 2,630 acres for the ten
year average.
The Eastern Oregon
Area (EOA) is comprised of three forest protection districts, one operating
forest protective association, twenty-four rangeland fire protection
associations, and two state forests.
Area (EOA) is comprised of three forest protection districts, one operating
forest protective association, twenty-four rangeland fire protection
associations, and two state forests.