Recent lightning storm sparks wildfire in the North Fork John Day Wilderness
Release Date: May 13, 2016
Pendleton, Oregon: A wildfire was detected Wednesday afternoon in a remote area of the North Fork John Day Wilderness northeast of Rabbit Butte, said Andrew Stinchfield, Fire Management Officer for the North Fork John Day Ranger District. The fire is believed to be a lightning fire sparked by the storm that passed through northeast Oregon on Friday, April 29. The Rabbit fire is estimated at 1 acre in size and is located seven miles northwest of the town of Granite, OR.
No structures, improvements or private land are threatened by the fire at this time. Because of the remote location of the fire, predicted rainfall in the forecast, and numerous hazards to firefighters, the fire will be monitored and managed indirectly. “We’ll adapt our strategy and management tactics based on the amount of precipitation we receive and the fire’s activity,” said Stinchfield.
The Forest Service engages wildfires in ways that reduce risk to firefighter and public safety, property, infrastructure, and valuable natural and cultural resources. When conditions are right, the agency may manage all, or part of, some lightning caused fires to reduce hazardous fuels, improve habitat, and achieve other natural resource management objectives consistent with fire season and local Land Management direction.
“The decision to monitor this fire was based on protecting values at risk with the least firefighter exposure necessary” said Ian Reid, North Fork John Day District Ranger. He went on to say “Given the fire’s location deep in the wilderness, rugged terrain, distance from private property and improvements, and hazards with limited medical evacuation options, directly suppressing this fire would create unnecessary exposure to our firefighters.”
The lightning storm that started this fire scattered nearly 2,000 strikes across the region; however, a significant amount of rainfall was also received and the forecast is predicting additional rain this weekend.
Forest personnel will continue to monitor for additional smokes.
-USDA FS-