FIRE NEWS--Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center

For Immediate Release:  July 30, 2014 10 a.m.

Lightning Storm Ignites 30 Wildfires in Central Oregon:
Red Flag Warning for ‘Abundant Lightning’ in Effect Through Saturday

Prineville—Approximately 700 lightning strikes started over 30 small fires in Central Oregon yesterday afternoon and evening, mostly on the Deschutes National Forest.  Firefighters engaged early and kept nearly all the fires under 1 acre, including one in the critical Bend Municipal Watershed.

Two fires north of the Ochoco National Forest on private land and Prineville BLM land are larger and burning in lighter fuels. One fire 5 miles west of Condon is approximately 1,000 acres with zero containment and the cause of that fire is unknown at this time. The second fire, 2 miles southwest of Dayville, was caused by lightning and has been lined at 16 acres. Firefighters will continue mopping up the fire, which is predominantly on private land.

The National Weather Service in Pendleton has issued a Red Flag Warning for thunderstorms producing abundant lightning. The warning will be in effect from 1 p.m. today through 11 p.m. Saturday, August 2.