PENDLETON — Firefighters are making substantial progress on most of the wildfires caused by recent thunderstorms, Darcy Weseman of the Umatilla National Forest reported Wednesday, Aug. 24.
Fire crews on the Malheur National Forest are responding to new smoke reports following significant lightning activity, with new incidents reported to Burns Interagency Communication Center and John Day Interagency Dispatch Center Tuesday.
Local initial attack resources have been busy responding to these incidents with support from aerial resources. As the week progresses, more lightning and extreme heat will bring new smoke reports. Aerial reconnaissance and fire lookouts are assisting with detection efforts.
John Day Interagency Dispatch Center, which covers the northern portion of the Malheur National Forest, currently has two fires. The 5.8-acre Weasel Fire in the Duncan Creek area on the edge of the Philip Schneider Wildlife area, 13 miles south of Dayville, is producing smoke visible from many locations of Forest Road 2150. The second fire, on Prairie City Ranger District, is approximately half an acre and is located southeast of Antelope Lookout.