FOREST GROVE, Ore. — Two fires, each 1/8th of an acre, were sparked by lightning in the city of Forest Grove's watershed, said Forest Grove Fire and Rescue Saturday. Fire crews have pulled out due to thunderstorms but returned Sunday.
Forest Grove Fire and Rescue said, as of 9 a.m., there had been no reported new incidents from yesterday’s storms, but ODF has crews patrolling the forests checking every lightning strike that registered a ground contact to make sure a fire didn’t start.
At around 5 p.m. on Saturday, crews pulled out due to thunderstorms but returned Sunday morning. Before crews left, the first fire was 100% handlined and had a hose around the perimeter of the fire, while crews were working to contain the second fire, according to Forest Grove Fire and Rescue.
One fire was noted in the area of Soda Springs Road, and smoke was visible from Gales Creek, in addition to the west side of Forest Grove. The first fire was reported "100% lined" Saturday afternoon by Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) and South Fork Corrections Camp crews.
The other fire was located with a Forest Grove Fire and Rescue drone, with Oregon Department of Forestry and Stimson Lumber crews hiking on foot to access the fire. It was around one mile from a road and "has extensive hose lay" to access the blaze.
The agency added that the fires are small and burning in steep drainages, away from the city's water source.
This is a developing story; check back for updates.
