July 23, 2024 3:50 a.m.

Following lightning storms which swept across the Douglas District late Saturday night into Sunday morning, bringing several registered air-to-ground strikes, crews with the Douglas Forest Protective Association immediately initiated lightning reconnaissance.

DFPA Public Information Officer Rachel Pope said as of mid-day Monday, staff has responded to 36 smoke investigations. Six of those calls were confirmed lightning-caused fires. Pope said five of these fires are in patrol status with only one remaining in mop-up.

The fires in patrol status are:

*Morgan Creek Fire near Myrtle Creek

*Dole Road #2 Fire near Myrtle Creek

*Ash Creek Fire near Riddle

*Strawberry Mountain Fire southeast of Roseburg

*Thompson Fire near Winston. This fire was discovered early Sunday afternoon after extensive ground and aerial reconnaissance. A lightning-struck, smoldering tree was located near Upper Olalla Road after hiking through very brushy terrain and utilizing the assistance of the air attack. An estimated 0.01 acres fire was safely extinguished with the help of a DFPA contracted helicopter.

The fire in mop up is:

*Old Blue Fire in the Elkton area. DFPA’s ground reconnaissance crews located a lightning-struck tree that had caught fire and spread to nearby vegetation, burning about 1 acre. As of 11:00 a.m. Monday, 50 percent of the fire area was mopped up. Smoke may be visible in the area as crews continue to work.

The Public Use Restriction Level is Extreme with the Industrial Fire Precaution Level at Level 3. More fire season information is available at www.dfpa.net.