A surge of thunderstorm activity lit up western Oregon earlier this week, with nearly 1,000 lightning flashes striking across Lane County and igniting new wildfires in the southern Willamette Valley and Cascade Range.
The National Weather Service reported about 600 cloud-to-cloud strikes and another 300 to 400 bolts hitting the ground on Monday. Roughly 20 to 40 of those ground strikes landed west of Goshen and south of Eugene, where one is suspected of sparking the Spencer Butte fire. The fire has since been reported to be under control.
Firefighters climbed steep terrain to reach the blaze, which smoldered in the forest near the popular hiking area. Crews from the Oregon Department of Forestry worked through the night, holding it to about a quarter-acre before shifting to mop-up operations on Tuesday.
The storm also set off 10 new fires in the Willamette National Forest and 14 more in the Umpqua National Forest over the past several days. Officials credited nearby crews for moving quickly to keep those starts small.
Emigrant Fire Update
While most lightning-caused fires have been kept small, the Emigrant Fire southeast of Oakridge remains a major concern. The blaze has now burned an estimated 32,294 acres and is just 1% contained.
Do you love Oregon?
Sign up for monthly emails full of local travel inspiration and fun trip ideas. In each newsletter we'll share upcoming events, new things to do, hot dining spots and great travel ideas.
Firefighters are contending with a mix of lightning, hail, and heavy rainfall. While the precipitation helped reduce fire activity, it also introduced new hazards: the potential for additional ignitions, falling trees weakened by wind, and slippery terrain.
Spot fires flared on both the northern and southern edges of the Emigrant Fire this week. On the north side, crews quickly built line, laid hose, and began mop-up operations. Similar mop-up work is underway on the southern edge.
With more than an inch of rain expected in the area, fire officials are hopeful suppression efforts will gain ground. In the meantime, heavy equipment task forces are building contingency lines to slow any potential spread, while crews continue reinforcing containment lines and clearing hazard trees to protect personnel and equipment.
Residents and drivers near Oakridge are being urged to stay alert, as wet conditions, reduced visibility, and the presence of firefighting equipment along roads add to the danger.
Storm Activity Continues
Rainfall across the Eugene-Springfield area was light compared with the Cascades, with most locations receiving just 0.01 to 0.10 inches. The highest totals were recorded near Creswell.
Additional thunderstorms rolled through Tuesday, developing over the mountains by midday and drifting toward the valley in the evening. While storms are typical for September, meteorologists say activity over the Cascades in recent weeks has been well above normal. Head over to mapoffire.com to see all the current fires currently burning in Oregon.
