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QuickTake:
Lightning-caused wildfires burned on multiple fronts: The Emigrant Fire southeast of Oakridge in the Willamette National Forest had grown to 6,000 acres. Several smaller fires, including one near Cottage Grove, had been contained.
Lookout Eugene-Springfield tracked fire weather and smoke conditions in real-time from Aug. 24-27. As of Wednesday, fire weather threats shifted away from Eugene and Springfield. This story will no longer be updated.
7:45 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 27
The Emigrant Fire has grown to 10,000 acres, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Read the latest here. Meanwhile, the Sugarloaf Mountain Fire has remained at 35 acres.
1:20 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 26
Forecasters with the National Weather Service do not expect debilitating levels of smoke to drift into Eugene and Springfield from the 6,000-acre Emigrant Fire in southeast Lane County. As of Tuesday afternoon, smoke from the Emigrant’s fire plume blew south, mostly noticeably into Roseburg.
Haze was visible in Eugene, Springfield, Cottage Grove and Oakridge, and is expected to thicken through the day before tapering off by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27. Read more about the Southern Willamette Valley’s smoke issues here.
The service has extended its red flag warning for southeast Lane County, where fire danger persists with a chance of scattered thunderstorms and lightning.
12 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 26
The National Weather Service recorded nearly 200 lightning strikes in Lane County in the past 24 hours. No new fires have been reported since Monday afternoon.
The Oregon Department of Forestry said five small lightning-caused fires east of Interstate 5 are contained.
Among them, the Cougar Mountain Fire northeast of Cottage Grove, burned 2.5 acres. Crews are working to put out remaining hot spots, and smoke may be visible from the hillside.
A forestry spokesperson did not release the locations of the other fires but said no properties are threatened.
10:55 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 26
Firefighters are expected to navigate challenging weather conditions Tuesday as hot, dry, winds drive the growth of the 6,000-acre Emigrant Fire. Winds from thunderstorms could gust up to 40 mph.
The U.S. Forest Service has asked for additional resources to support fire line construction, strategically working alongside helicopters and air attack. Firefighters are trying to keep the fire south of Forest Service Road 21, a road that wraps around Hills Creek Reservoir and goes south into campgrounds and trailheads. The fire is about 20 miles southeast of Oakridge.
No evacuations are underway as of Tuesday morning.
9 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 26
Staff evacuated runners from the Oregon 200 race after the Emigrant Fire reached the edge of the course in the Middle Fork along the Willamette River. The race started Friday in Greenwaters Park in Oakridge, where it was scheduled to finish Tuesday morning.
Organizers aborted the race Sunday, and all participants returned safely to Oakridge as of Monday evening, the race director said.
6:45 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 26
The Emigrant Fire in Willamette National Forest grew to 6,000 acres overnight, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. It is the second largest wildfire burning in the state, according to the center, behind the nearly 22,000-acre Flat Fire north of Sisters.
The Emigrant Fire is 22 miles southeast of Oakridge and around approximately 3 miles southwest of Indigo Springs Campground on the Middle Fork Ranger District. Visitors are asked to avoid recreating in the area for public safety.
It has burned so intensely and rapidly Monday that it formed its own weather and a pyrocumulus cloud — a formation that develops when intense heat meets enough moisture and atmospheric instability. Such formations were once rare but becoming increasingly frequent in Oregon’s new fire reality, the state climatologist told Lookout Eugene-Springfield. Watch a time-lapse of the cloud development here.
6:15 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 26
A red flag warning for fire weather is in effect for eastern Lane County through 9 p.m. Tuesday.
The National Weather Service is forecasting a 10 to 20% chance of thunderstorms Tuesday and Wednesday, with the greatest likelihood over the Cascades and foothills in Linn and Lane counties.
Unlike the recent dry storms, these are expected to be wet, with a 10 percent chance of more than a quarter-inch of rain. Thunderstorms could also bring strong outflow winds, which may cause rapid fire spread if a fire starts or is already burning.
6:30 p.m., Monday, Aug. 25
The fire east of Sugarloaf Mountain on the Cottage Grove Ranger District had grown to 35 acres as of Monday evening. A heavy response included ground crews with two engines, four personnel, a dozer, and extensive air support with two type 1 helicopters, two large airtankers, and an airtanker.
3 p.m., Monday, Aug. 25
The Oregon Department of Forestry’s South Cascades District is responding to five small fires in Lane County east of Interstate 5. The largest, the Cougar Mountain Fire northeast of Cottage Grove, was 2.5 acres. ODF did not provide locations for the others, saying those fires are not threatening properties.
In addition, the 1,200-acre Emigrant Fire and 15-acre Sugarloaf Fire are burning, bringing the total to at least seven wildfires Monday.
ODF generally responds to fires on state and private land. It is supporting the U.S. Forest Service on larger fires in the Willamette and Umpqua national forests.
The South Cascades District estimates nearly 200 lightning strikes in the southern Willamette Valley over the past 24 hours. Six engines, two hand crews and two helicopters from the district are assigned, and officials warn more fires could stretch resources thin.
2:30 p.m., Monday, Aug. 25
The National Weather Service has canceled the extreme heat warning for Eugene, Springfield and other cities in Lane County.
Cooler temperatures from cloud cover are expected to continue Tuesday, though warm nights still pose a moderate heat risk for people sensitive to heat and those without access to cooling.
1:55 p.m., Monday, Aug. 25
Ninety-three lightning strikes hit the Umpqua National Forest overnight and into Monday morning, the U.S. Forest Service confirms. Four strikes were recorded in the Cottage Grove District, which reaches into Lane County, and 10 in the North Umpqua District south of the county line.
The strikes surrounded Sugarloaf Mountain, where a fire broke out Sunday evening. Crews continued fighting the 15-acre blaze Monday afternoon.
1:10 p.m., Monday, Aug. 25
South Lane County Fire & Rescue confirmed a fire in the hills northeast of Cottage Grove. The Cougar Mountain Fire is estimated at half an acre. Oregon Department of Forestry has sent a helicopter, 20-person hand crew and an engine.
Meanwhile, at the 1,200-acre Emigrant Fire, the forestry department is also sharing a helicopter in support of the U.S. Forest Service.
Ben Botkin contributed to this report.
12:50 p.m., Monday, Aug. 25
A red flag warning remains in effect until 8 p.m. Monday for the Cascade foothills near Springfield, Creswell and Cottage Grove, as well as the northern and southern Willamette National Forest. Scattered thunderstorms, wind gusts, and dry fuels could cause erratic fire behavior and new fire starts.
11:45 a.m., Monday, Aug. 25
The Sugarloaf Mountain Fire in the Cottage Grove Ranger District of the Umpqua National Forest is estimated at 15 acres, the U.S. Forest Service says. Crews have dug about 150 feet of line to help contain the fire on the east flank. Three engines, four firefighters and a dozer are on scene, with more resources on the way.
11:20 a.m., Monday, Aug. 25
The U.S. Forest Service expects the Emigrant Fire, southeast of Oakridge near Diamond Peak, to grow because of dry conditions and the chance of more thunderstorms. Crews estimated the fire at 1,200 acres.
A University of Oregon tower camera at Willamette Pass showed a large column of smoke rising from the fire over the course of an hour Monday morning.
A red flag warning remains in effect for eastern Lane County, where the Emigrant Fire is burning, and for the Cascade foothills near Eugene and Springfield, where storms continue to roll through.
The National Weather Service warned that gusts up to 40 mph could travel as far as 25 miles from thunderstorm cores. Such winds may cause erratic fire spread, while high instability, frequent lightning and critically dry fuels could trigger new fire starts.
Lookout Eugene-Springfield asked about the status of the Sugar Loaf Mountain Fire southwest of Oakridge. It was estimated at 8 acres Sunday night, and no update has been released since.
10:45 a.m., Monday, Aug. 25
The National Weather Service confirmed lightning strikes Monday morning in Springfield, Creswell, and Cottage Grove. Meteorologists said the storm is moving south out of the region.
Additional thunderstorms remain possible this afternoon and evening. The flood advisory for Lane County has ended.
9:30 a.m., Monday, Aug. 25
The Emigrant Fire nearly quadrupled in size overnight, reaching about 1,200 acres Monday morning in a remote area southeast of Oakridge.
Crews with helicopters, air tankers, and other heavy equipment are working against the wind-driven flames. Firefighters are using and reinforcing containment lines from the 2009 Tumblebug Fire, a burn scar with wildfire burning again.
9:15 a.m., Monday, Aug. 25
Wildfire smoke is aloft in Eugene and Springfield Monday morning. The smoke is likely from the Flat Fire in Jefferson County and may also be coming from the new Emigrant Fire in Lane County, southeast of Oakridge.
The Lane Regional Air Protection Agency anticipates the smoke to hang around through Wednesday, though it will be too high in the atmosphere to affect air quality.
Cloud cover also remained as storms continued across the area.
The National Weather Service extended its flood advisory Monday morning for Lane County through 10:45 a.m. Heavy rain could cause small stream flooding in Eugene, Springfield, Creswell, Lowell, Dorena, Pleasant Hill, Dexter, Jasper, and Goshen.
8 a.m., Monday, Aug. 25
The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning until 8 p.m. Monday, for the Cascade foothills near Springfield, Creswell, and Cottage Grove.
It includes the northern and southern Willamette National Forest. Scattered thunderstorms, gusty winds up to 40 mph, frequent lightning and dry grass and brush could trigger new fires and rapid spread.
6:30 a.m., Monday, Aug. 25
Residents of Springfield could hear thunder around 6 a.m., and weather apps showed lightning strikes in East Springfield. Meteorologists with the National Weather Service were unable to speak with Lookout Eugene-Springfield due to staffing limitations and tracking the storm.
There are no reports of ignitions.
The National Weather Service issued a flood advisory Monday morning for Lane County.
7:15 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 24
Two wildfires are burning in Lane County after widespread lightning, Sunday, Aug. 24.
The estimated 300-acre Emigrant Fire in the Willamette National Forest is burning southeast of Oakridge. The estimated 8-acre Sugar Loaf Mountain fire, in the Umpqua National Forest, is burning southwest of Oakridge and to the east of Cottage Grove.
Hot, dry, and windy conditions contributed to the growth of the fires, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Air resources are responding to both of the fires alongside ground crews.
Crews are anticipated to work throughout the evening as another thunderstorm is in the forecast.
The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for Monday afternoon and evening in southeast Lane County. It also covers southern Oregon in the Medford area. Strong thunderstorms could send wind gusts of 35 to 50 mph — up to 25 miles outward from its core.
No areas were under evacuation alerts as of 7 p.m. Sunday.
1:15 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 24
On Sunday morning and into the early afternoon, smoky and cloudy skies rolled over Eugene and Springfield. The smoke, likely from the Flat Fire in Jefferson County, was too high to affect air quality, according to the air agency.
The cloud cover comes from monsoonal moisture, a seasonal shift in atmospheric circulation from the south that can bring showers. In the southern Willamette Valley, the moisture is not reaching the surface, leaving humidity low and drying grasses and brush amid drought conditions.
Sunday morning, areas near Oakridge saw a couple of nearby lightning strikes. Forecasters said there was another chance for storms near the Cascade crest in eastern Lane County in the late afternoon and into the evening.
11 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 24
Eugene temperature records were broken Friday and Saturday, according to the National Weather Service, as the city hit 99 degrees both days.
By Saturday afternoon, the heat wave helped create smog as sunlight and wind reacted with emissions such as vehicle exhaust. The reaction produced harmful ground-level ozone, which can trigger coughing, sore throats and worsen asthma. The Lane Regional Air Protection Agency reported ozone levels were elevated but did not reach unhealthy levels.
