PRINEVILLE, OR -- Oregon again has more than 20 active large fires, thanks in part to weekend lightning. The largest new fire is burning in Grant County. The Rail Ridge Fire is 61,433 acres, burning near Martin Creek on the South Fork of the John Day River.  

Near Mitchell, the Shoe Fly Fire (pictured) is now 20,247 acres. A management team took command of that incident Tuesday evening. Near Tygh Valley, more air resources were assigned to the 15,000-acre Oak Canyon Fire, which is considered 25% contained. And, southeast of Post, the Wiley Flat Fire is now over 10,000 acres. The Crook County Sheriff's Office revised evacuation zones Tuesday for that incident.

In Klamath County, the Copperfield Fire is fully lined. It's estimated at about 3,800 acres. FEMA authorized the use fo federal funds to help pay for that firefight.

Kaitlyn Webb, with the U.S. Forest Service says fire season is far from over, "We saw a little slow in fire season, when we had that drop in temperatures, both regionally and across the northwest. But that potential for new starts has remained high, and the activity that increased over the weekend is a real testament to that." She tells KBND News, "We would need prolonged wetting rain or snow, in order to significantly impact moisture levels in larger fuels, like logs or stumps." 

Public use restrictions remain in place, including a ban on open fires, "Whenever you're headed out to recreate, make sure you check for fire restrictions before even considering packing what you need for a campfire," says Webb, "And opt to use a liquid or pressurized gas stove instead." Drivers should also keep vehicles off dry vegetation. And if you're towing something, make sure chains don't drag on the road.