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Update: Lightning Caused Fires Cause Several Campground Evacuations

Ken Gregor - Incident Commander

Updated Sunday 2:00 pm:

Lemolo Lake Resort and the Forest Service Campgrounds at Poole Creek and East Lemolo remain open.  Bunker Hill, Inlet, and Crystal Springs  Campgrounds are closed to protect public safety.

The Bunker Hill Complex is located 15 miles north of Diamond Lake.  The fire complex consists of one larger fire called the Bunker Hill Fire and several small fires all burning within the Umpqua National Forest.

There is a Red Flag Warning for abundant lighting and dry fuels until 11p.m. Sunday which could result in high intensity fire behavior and new fire starts.   Otherwise we expect active fire behavior with light winds.

An Emergency Area Closure for Public Health and Safety is in effect for an area north of Lemolo Lake.  Current restrictions and closure information is located at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/umpqua.

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Almost 800 lightning strikes hit Oregon Friday and Saturday, sparking more than a dozen new wildfires. One of the blazes prompted the evacuation of nearby campgrounds.

In Oregon's Umpqua National Forest, lightning ignited six fires. One started near a popular lake and recreation area, forcing the evacuation of three campgrounds. Fire Information Officer Emily Veale says the drought has dried out the fuels.

Veale: "Right now the Umpqua is probably sitting a month ahead of time of where we are as far as being dry. So it's creating a situation where in the afternoons when it starts getting hot there's torching trees and the fire activity really increases."

With triple-digit temperatures and more lightning forecast, officials have issued Red Flag Warnings. It means there's a potential for new fires and explosive growth of current ones.

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