Lightning-sparked fires fires ignite near John Day

A string of thunderstorms rattled Grant County Wednesday afternoon, sparking several wildfires and prompting evacuations.

In an email to our sister station KGW. Judy Schuette said she watched from her deck as the storms rolled through.

“The lightning bolts hit one after the other, which immediately started the three fires,” Schuette said.

As the fires grew, managers with the Malheur National Forest and the Oregon Department of Forestry called in air resources.

Due to what was at risk, including life, personal property and peoples’ livelihoods, several air resources responded and assisted with the efforts in John Day and Canyon City.

Those resources included two heavy air tankers and two (single-engine air tankers (SEATs) dropping retardant to establish fire lines; a helicopter also assisted ground crews by doing water drops.

The Blue Mountain Eagle newspaper was reporting two fires merged on the hillside east of Highway 395, which runs through John Day and Canyon City.

The paper reported at one point, the flames threatened to sweep downhill to the highway, which is flanked by homes and businesses. At the height of Wednesday’s fire activity, officials closed Canyon Boulevard, allowing through traffic only with an Oregon Department of Transportation pilot car.

The fires also forced the evacuation of some a HUD development in Canyon City, the newspaper said, but about 8:30 p.m. officials began letting residents return to their homes.

The Grouse Mountain Fire (ODF) was estimated to be 75-plus acres, located about six miles north of John Day, and put up a large column that was visible for miles around well into the evening.

The Starvation Fire, burning on the Malheur National Forest, was located about 16 miles southeast of Prairie City near Sheep Mountain and was estimated to be 80-plus acres.

For a link to the Blue Mountain Eagle Click Here.