Many Oregon Fires Started by 6K Lightning Bolts This Past Weekend

Lightning struck Oregon more than 6,000 times Sunday and Monday, touching off small fires by the dozens.

Such a barrage can be expected to cause numerous “sleeper” or holdover fires in coming days.

Northwest fire spokeswoman Robin DeMario says lightning spread from Oregon’s coast between Tillamook and Newport into a fan shape that broadened to the northeast and southeast corners of the state.

Among the areas that got hammered were the Eugene region, which reported 30 fires, and the John Day region, where 20 were reported.

Fire agencies in Central Oregon say about 3,400 strikes caused numerous fires, including one near Cabin Lake in Lake County, in about 80 acres.

Another is near Camp Sherman. People in two campgrounds were asked to relocate, although they weren’t in imminent danger.