Lightning activity from Tuesday evening’s thunderstorm produced about 50 lightning strikes and one confirmed fire on Douglas Forest Protective Association (DFPA) protected lands. A DFPA engine crew responded to and extinguished a single tree fire in the White Rock area northeast of Myrtle Creek. DFPA also assisted the Umpqua National Forest with three small fires on the Tiller Ranger District.
DFPA will take to the air with a fixed wing aircraft Wednesday morning to scour the county for possible sleeper fires from the storm. DFPA is also working with Douglas County landowners who are assisting in the patrol of forestlands.
The thunderstorm hit Douglas County around 5:00 p.m. as it made it’s way from southern Oregon and traveled north and east over the Cascades. Over 3,600 lightning strikes were recorded throughout the state and were accompanied by varying amounts of rainfall ranging from zero to 1.76 inches.
While on high alert during Monday evening’s storm, firefighters responded to a report of a fire that turned out to be an illegal burn pile near Elkhead Road and Romey Howard Road. The individual was cited for burning without a permit. All back yard burning is currently prohibited on DFPA protected lands.
Tom Fields – Douglas Forest Protective Association
(541) 672-6507 ext. 136