July 5, 2022 2:00 p.m. 

Firefighters with the Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest District were kept busy over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, following a thunderstorm that rolled through Jackson County on Saturday and Josephine County on Sunday.

An ODF release said in all, seven fires have resulted from lightning strikes so far. One is in Josephine County while the other six are in Jackson County

Public Information Officer Natalie Weber said the largest fire, and the only one that firefighters are still engaged on, is the Skookum Creek Fire, located two miles north of the Oregon/California border in the Soda Mountain Wilderness.  Weber said following accurate GPS mapping, the fire has been determined to be six acres. As of Tuesday morning, it was 100 percent lined and 25 percent mopped up. Firefighters are facing challenges following the recent rains; the road they were using to access the fire has washed out, making the hike in much longer and more difficult. Hazard trees are also posing a threat to resources. 71 people are currently assigned to the incident.

Weber said for the next couple of weeks, ODF firefighters will be patrolling these areas affected by lightning for any potential holdover fires. The ODF Detection Center will be monitoring cameras in these areas as well and reconnaissance flights will be ordered when necessary.

For updated information on fire season in the Southwest District, go to: www.swofire.com.