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Tough Fire Season Already Underway In Douglas County

Douglas Forest Protective Association

The federal government is warning this could be a dangerous and costly wildfire season in the west, due in part to drought and climate change.

The Douglas Forest Protective Association oversees 1.6-million acres of land in Douglas County. Fire Prevention Specialist Kyle Reed says their 10-year average is about 90 fires a year. He says they're already one-third of the way there.

Reed: "Typically fire season here starts the middle of June, around the 15th, so we've had 30 fires before we even get into what is traditionally is the normal start of fire season. So we're looking at the possibility of another long fire season. The drought conditions we've had now for several years are compounding and they're just making the fuels drier and more readily available to burn."

A lightning storm moved over Douglas County Tuesday morning, starting eight small fires. The 98-acre Corn Creek Fire, east of Canyonville, is fully contained. A 50-person crew will be on the scene Wednesday to extinguish hot spots. The cause of the blaze is under investigation.

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