PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Officials are keeping a close eye on the threat of thunder and lightning, especially in the Columbia River Gorge.
Hood Hood River Fire Department is patrolling the Gorge for any fires started by lightning.
“The reason why we’re patrolling is to catch those lightning strikes, as small as they can be, to prevent them from getting big,” engine captain Walter Vicente said.
The concern for fast-spreading wildfires being started by lightning strikes isn’t very high though, because a lot of the organic material that would allow a fire to spread has already been burned by the Eagle Creek Fire.
It’s also possible for fires to start weeks after the lightning strikes.
“We call them lightning holdovers,” Vicente said. “The fire starts, not just that day, but we’ll have those starts in a couple of weeks. We’ve known of cases of those fires starting six weeks after it rolls through.”
Vicente said crews keep tents and sleeping bags with them just in case they need to stay on the fireline for an extended period.
National Weather Service metrologies Colby Neuman said the heavy rain that comes with storms has done a lot to improve conditions.
“The moisture content of the wood and the forest in geneal, there’s a lot of vegetation out there, it’s still very moist,” Neuman said. “In the immediate near term, we would be pretty surprised if we have any issues.”
But just because the threat of a wildfire is relatively small, officials say it’s safer to stay out of the Gorge during a storm.
“[Lightning is] obviously a hazard and it’s best to get inside if you have plans to hike in the Gorge,” Neuman said. “If thunder roars, go indoors. If you can hear thunder, you’re close enough to be struck by lightning.”