MALHEUR COUNTY, Ore. — An overnight thunderstorm in eastern Oregon set a half-dozen new wildfire starts.
Vale Bureau of Land Management said Tuesday morning that crews were either already fighting or en route to at least six fires in Malheur County. All were sparked by lightning strikes: "the number one cause of wildfires on the BLM Vale District," according to officials.
Air resources were sent up "first thing this morning" to help map and evaluate the fires, according to the Vale BLM.
Eight engines and BLM fire crews have been dispatched as well, with help from Jordan Valley, Blue Mountain and Vale Rural Fire Protection Associations and the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest.
Because lightning-sparked fires are often in remote areas of the county, it can take several hours for crews to get there by vehicle. Water and retardant drops via helicopters and airplanes can help keep the flames from spreading out of control while firefighters are still en route on the ground.
Officials are keeping an eye on the sky Tuesday: Southeast Oregon is under a Red Flag Warning from noon to midnight and more lightning is expected, which could result in more fire starts.
