Lightning strikes came down around the Cedar Creek Fire Tuesday, sparking small fires and forcing some campers to evacuate from Waldo Lake.
A campsite at Shadow Bay campground experienced what was described as a double strike Tuesday morning that set two trees on fire.
“They had two lightning struck trees in the campground, so double strike came down and hit Shadow Bay campground,” said public information officer Jacob Welsh. “That’s kind of a unique phenomena to have two lightning strikes in a similar area.”
The Waldo Lake area saw several strikes, mainly on the east and southeast ends of the lake.
Welsh says crews were able to service them quickly and mop up.
Commanders have a variety of resources for battling fire startups outside the main fire including smoke jumpers and helitac crews.
Welsh says fire crews are still on the lookout for more lightning-spotted fires, which can smolder and remain undetected for weeks.
Despite heavy rain in parts of the Willamette Valley Tuesday, the fire area only received scattered and light rainfall.
He says the fire staff has a plane that flies over the area to look for fires, along with a drone equipped with infrared equipment that can also fly at night.
Fire lookouts and camera systems around the area also help detect new burns.
The fire is burning more than 3,700 acres east of Oakridge.
More than 500 people are working to fight the fire along with four heavy helicopters.