August 18,, 2022 10:30 a.m. 

Resources are responding to new fire starts on the Umpqua National Forest.

Pam Sichting of the UNF said predicted lightning moved over the area late Wednesday afternoon, sparking several fires on the UNF. Sichting said multiple lightning strikes were received resulting in 10 smoke reports by nightfall, Wednesday.

Forest firefighting resources have staffed five confirmed fires so far. Most of the new starts are in the North Zone, which includes the North Umpqua and Diamond Lake Ranger districts of the forest. Sichting said smokejumpers and heli-rappellers were deployed Wednesday evening into the remote fires, while engines and crews responded by way of forest access roads. Helicopters were launched to provide water drops to support firefighters on the ground. Some scattered precipitation was received.

Additional firefighting resources are being allocated to the new starts, based on forest priorities. Aerial detection flights, on the ground firefighting resources, and look-outs will continue to scout for additional starts.

Sichting said cloud cover is expected to reduce forecasted temperatures while the chance of additional lightning remans.