Firefighters on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest are working toward full suppression on 33 active lightning-caused fires. Most of these fires are on the High Cascades Ranger District, with some on the Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District.
The US Forest Service reports 22 of the fires have now been fully contained or controlled. As of this morning, there were still 13 unconfirmed reports of smoke.
In addition to the more than 1,700 lightning strikes since Sunday evening, the local forest had received nearly 500 new strikes in the past 24 hours.
Air and ground reconnaissance will continue today to locate and respond to any new fire starts. Hand crews, engines, heavy equipment, falling modules, water tenders and a variety of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft are working toward full suppression on all active incidents on the forest.
Rural Metro Fire Department reported the first smoke in its Josephine County response area last night. Tuesday's thunderstorm brought at least one lightning strike on the west side of Walker Mountain north of Grants Pass. Crews from the Oregon Department of Forestry were hiking into the location to begin suppression. Due to the accompanying rainfall, growth of the fire was not expected.
