Lightning storms spark dozens of wildfires in Oregon and Washington
More than 14,000 lightning strikes this week ignited at least 30 large fires in Oregon and Washington, with dry, windy conditions expected to complicate firefighting efforts.
Thunderstorms that produced over 14,000 lightning strikes across the Pacific Northwest on Wednesday and Thursday sparked dozens of wildfires in Oregon and Washington. The Northwest Interagency Coordination Center reported that firefighters are battling at least 30 sizable blazes, many confirmed as lightning-caused, while the origins of some remain under investigation.
Smoke from the fires, combined with emissions from Canadian wildfires, is drifting into parts of the Midwest and the Northeast. Officials warned that forecasted hot, dry and windy weather, along with the possibility of additional thunderstorms delivering little rain, could generate new ignitions and hinder suppression efforts.
"The state has been bracing for an active wildfire season because much of Oregon was in either severe or extreme drought," said Larry O’Neill, Oregon's state climatologist.