Lightning sparks small fires on W-W forest

Published 5:00 pm Wednesday, August 14, 2013

As of Thursday morning, Aug. 15, the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest reported that a total of 13 fires were started forest-wide as the results of the lightning activity that occurred between Sunday and Tuesday this week.

The largest fire on the forest is the Silver Creek Fire five miles southwest of Enterprise. The fire is seven acres, burning at 8,000 feet in subalpine fir on Traverse Ridge in Lostine Canyon. Firefighters made good progress Wednesday and bucket drops have been effective.

Firefighters are working the fire, as well as a T1 helicopter, and multiple loads of retardant have been dropped. The Forest Service encourages the public to stay out and/or limit travel in the Lostine area for at least the next couple of days.

In all, two fires were reported in the Wallowa Valley Ranger District, one in Eagle Cap district, one in Hells Canyon NRA, six in the Whitman district and three in the La Grande district.

On the Umatilla National Forest, the Vinegar Fire located nine miles southwest of Granite in the North Fork John Day Wilderness is currently at 300 acres. It is being transitioned to a Type 2 Team Oregon Team 4. Helicopters are dipping out of Olive Lake and actively working the fire. Jumpers, rappellers and engines are on scene, engaged in size up operations.

There have been several other fires near the forest on private and other agency lands. Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch Centers website (www.wildcad.net) shows these incidents as well.