August 11, 2022 4:10 a.m.

Recent lightning and the elevated threat of wildfire in central and southern Oregon have prompted the Oregon Office of State Marshal to pre-position two structural task forces of firefighters and equipment in Deschutes and Klamath counties over the coming week.

An OSFM release said a task force from Marion County is mobilizing Thursday. These firefighters will be stationed in Deschutes County. The task force is made up of 13 firefighters, four engines, and one water tender. Saturday, a task force from Benton County will mobilize and will be pre-positioned in Klamath County. This group will consist of 14 firefighters, four engines and one water tender. These resources will be pre-positioned for 72 hours and may stay longer if needed. The task forces will be on the ground to add additional firefighting capacity if a brush or wildfire breaks out.

Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said, “Oregon experienced significant lightning over the last 24 hours, and with rising temperatures returning the next few days, the potential for holdover fires is there”. Ruiz-Temple said the agency is using the power of the Oregon Fire Mutual Aid System to move resources and add capacity to respond to any fire that may spark.

The release said with hot weather returning, the OSFM encourages all Oregonians to be aware of the dry conditions and take necessary precautions to avoid sparking a human-caused fire.