VALE, Ore. -- Authorities say some campers along the Owyhee River in eastern Oregon have been evacuated as a precaution after lightning touched off three wildfires in Malheur County.
Federal fire officials say a fire near the Owyhee Dam started Monday night, and the fire area grew overnight to 40,000 acres.
Fire spokesman Tim Johnson says that as of early Tuesday no facilities or power lines from the irrigation and hydroelectric dam were in jeopardy.
But, he says, firefighters are facing hot, dry conditions Tuesday.
Johnson says it's not known how many campers were advised to leave.
The lightning Monday night touched off two smaller brush and grass fires farther south in Malheur County, east of Jordan Valley.
A fourth lightning fire, midway between Ontario and Burns, started Sunday.
