More storms, lightning, but rain helps stop new fires

(Update: New fires stopped small; Tumalo Creek Fire 25% lined)

Another round of thunderstorms rumbled through the High Desert on Thursday, and firefighters with the Central Oregon Fire Management Service picked up five new lightning starts, but rain and quick action kept them all small, officials said.

The new blazes included three fires on Prineville BLM lands and two on the Deschutes National Forest. All of the new starts were estimated at 1/ 10th of an acre and were being staffed by firefighters.

Of the eight new starts picked up after Wednesday last evening’s thunderstorms, seven were contained at less than an acre, officials said in Thursday night’s update.

The Tumalo Creek Fire was mapped Thursday at 10 acres, and officials said firefighters have direct hand line around 25 percent of the fire.

The fire received heavy rainfall Thursday afternoon, giving fire personnel more options for utilizing direct line construction. Indirect line construction will continue to be utilized where hazards, including snags and loose rocks, cannot be mitigated.

Current resources on the Tumalo Creek Fire include three hand crews, three engines, smokejumpers, four rappellers and a water tender. Prior to the afternoon storms, the incident was staffed by a number of aerial resources, as well.

Forest Service Road 370 continues to be closed for public and firefighter safety at the following locations:

·Forest Service Road 370/ Forest Service Road 380 junction

·Forest Service Road 370 junction at Three Creek Lake

·Forest Service Road 4601/ Forest Service Road 370 junction

There are no trail closures at this time, but field rangers have posted fire activity notices at the Flagline, North Fork and Mrazek trailheads .

For current Central Oregon wildfire and prescribed fire information, visit www.centraloregonfire.org or follow on Twitter: @CentralORFire.