'Very dangerous time': 100 PNW wildfires since June were human-caused

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — As extreme heat, dry conditions and lightning in the forecast increases the chances of wildfires in eastern Oregon, the U.S. Forest Service says a surge of human-caused wildfires is stretching resources thin.

Since June, 100 wildfires in Oregon and Washington were caused by people, the Forest Service said. Though most of the time crews were "largely successful" in putting them out, officials are urging the public to help reduce the amount of preventable fires firefighters have to deal with.

“We’re entering a very dangerous time period in the Pacific Northwest wildfire season,” said Pacific Northwest Assistant Fire Director for Operations Ed Hiatt in a statement. “Mother Nature turned on the oven for a week in local forests and now we’re preparing for the potential of dry lightning and gusty winds across much of eastern Oregon.”

Deteriorating conditions, the possibility of lighting sparks igniting flames, and fires spreading more rapidly and intensely all mean firefighters don't want to stretch thin their supply of needed engines, dozers, helicopters and other resources to respond to wildfires that are entirely preventable, officials said.

“It’s as dry as I’ve ever seen it,” Hiatt said. “From the Canadian border to southeast Oregon, multiple areas have broken daily records for forecasted fire intensity. Bottom line? If it starts, it’s going to burn hot and it’s going to burn fast.”

This weekend, the Forest Service said they will be sending fire managers to the area of Oregon whose boundaries include Klamath Falls, Bend and La Grande in anticipation of "dangerous dry lightning storms" arriving Saturday and lasting until Monday, officials said.

Amid these conditions, 13 regional national forests have implemented campfire restrictions to slow or stop the proliferation of preventable, human-caused fires.