ODF Tracking New Fires after Sunday Thunderstorms in Eastern Jackson County
Thunderstorms in eastern Jackson County ignited at least two wildfires late yesterday, but four were reported to the Oregon Department of Forestry.
Early Sunday evening, ODF started tracking the thunderstorm while monitoring potential lightning strike areas. Most of the activity was in Jackson County near Lake Creek and Prospect.
By 8:40 p.m., ODF crews were responding to four reports of fire after lightning strikes. One was confirmed by an air attack plane during a reconnaissance flight.
In a 9:40 p.m. update, ODF reported the Highway 140 Mile Marker 21 Fire was a single tree on fire and firefighters were hiking in. The Sunshine Creek Fire was located on Forest Service land within 1/8th of a mile of ODF-protected land. Due to limited access, firefighters were hiking in.
Crews were unable to locate reported fires near Grizzly Peak east of Ashland and on the hills around Greensprings. They were continuing to investigate.
New reports of fire will be investigated this morning. Rain that came with the storms will likely keep fires from growing until the sun rises and heat naturally increases fire behavior. A reconnaissance flight has been scheduled and crews will be ready to respond to any new reports of fire.
Posted on 8/25/25 6:37AM by Sam Marsh
