Lightning sparks first wildfire on North Fork John Day

Published 9:52 am Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Wildfire season has begun on the Umatilla National Forest.

Andrew Stinchfield, fire management officer on the North Fork John Day Ranger District, said lightning has sparked a one-acre blaze in a remote area of the forest about seven miles northwest of Granite. No structures or private land are threatened at this time.

With rain in the forecast and numerous hazards to firefighters, Stinchfield said they will monitor the fire indirectly unless it gets out of hand. Ian Reid, district ranger, said that decision weighs the forest’s need to protect property and keep fire crews safe.

“Given the fire’s location deep in the wilderness, rugged terrain, distance from private property and hazards with limited medical evacuation options, directly suppressing this fire would create unnecessary exposure to our firefighters,” Reid said.

The fire is believed to have started during a storm that rolled over Eastern Oregon on April 29, scattering 2,000 lightning strikes throughout the region. Forest personnel will continue to monitor for additional fires that might be left smoldering in the wilderness.