LIGHTNING STRIKES SPARK FIRES IN DIAMOND LAKE AND TILLER RANGER DISTRICTS

August 11, 2019 7:30 a.m. 
The anticipated thunderstorm that moved north through southern Oregon Friday night produced abundant lighting strikes across the Umpqua National Forest.
There were seven smoke reports and four confirmed fires on the Diamond Lake and Tiller Ranger Districts as a result of the lightning.
The largest fire was reported to be about two tenths of an acre.
The storm produced significant amounts of rain, totaling over one inch in some areas.
Although there has been minimal wildfire activity on the forest, fire managers had ordered additional fire resources for the predicted weather. Beyond existing forest initial attack resources, 3 Type 2 IA hand crews, 1 Type 2 helicopter, 7 engines, 2 felling modules and 2 dozers had been ordered to support firefighting operations that were anticipated to result from the lighting.
Additional thunderstorms are predicted through Saturday evening and the National Weather Service has issued a red-flag warning for lightning and gusty winds. That warning is in effect until 5:00 p.m. Saturday.
Holdover fires from the storm are anticipated as the region moves into next week with predicted dryer weather and an increase in the high temperatures.