By DOUG BATES/Editor/The Herald — The Portland office of the National Weather Service has issued a “fire weather watch” alert for thunderstorms and a possible barrage of lightning strikes in the Willamette National Forest over a nine-hour period late Thursday.
“The potential for abundant lightning and critically dry fuels may result in numerous fire starts,” the agency said in a bulletin issued early Wednesday. The warning will be in effect from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday.
Meanwhile, as a new “heat dome” builds over the Pacific Northwest, the National Weather Service’s Medford office issued a more ominous “red flag warning” for scattered thunderstorms and lightning over the Cascades south of the Willamette Forest, including the southeastern region of the Highway 58 corridor — eastern Douglas County, northern Klamath County and far northwest Lake County.
“Lightning and high fire danger will likely result in new fire starts,” the bulletin said. “Gusty thunderstorm winds could contribute to fire spread. Despite rainfall, initial attack resources could be overwhelmed and holdover fires are possible.”
Hours for the “red flag warning” are the same as the “fire weather watch” on the Willamette Forest: 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday.
Herald readers can view the hazard area in detail online here.
“A red flag warning does not mean there is a fire,” the National Weather Service said. “It means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. These conditions promote rapid spread of fire which may become life-threatening. Evacuate if ordered to, or if a fire threatens.”
On Tuesday, fire crews promptly responded to nine lightning fires on the Willamette National Forest — one on the McKenzie River Ranger District, and eight on the Middle Fork Ranger District with five being in the Fall Creek drainage. The fires range in size from spot fires to two acres.
The Lookout Fire on the McKenzie River Ranger District is less than an acre and is contained, the U.S. Forest Service reported.
One of the fires on the Middle Fork Ranger District is near Hills Creek Reservoir and is visible from Oakridge; the agency’s local initial attack crews are being assisted by the Oregon Department of Forestry and a Type 1 helicopter from the Bureau of Land Management. Smoke may be visible to the public, the agency advised.
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