Multiple firefighting resources engaged regionally
By Morgan Rothborne, Ashland.news
Lighting on Monday appeared to spark a small fire outside Ashland but the apparent fire was only what’s known as a “water dog.”
Monday evening Ashland residents were sent an Everbridge alert for a small fire west of the city’s watershed that was no threat to the city and reported to be one tenth of an acre with U.S Forest Resources working to extinguish the fire with resources including a helicopter .
Oregon Department of Forestry Public Information Officer Natalie Weber confirms the apparent fire has been found by aircraft to be a “water dog,” or a small low cloud formed by water evaporating in the heat. Water dogs can be confused with smoke, Weber said in a Monday evening text.
Current fires near the city of Ashland include the Lick Creek Fire at 0.01 acres near Lick Creek Road, Jacksonville, and the Water Gulch Fire near Waters Gulch Road, Jacksonville, at 2 acres, as reported on the wildfire app Watch Duty. Also nearby is the Salt Creek Fire at 4,102 acres outside Butte Falls and the Bogus Fire at 411 acres just over the border in California, according to Watch Duty.
ODF resources are on scene at both fires outside Jacksonville, including helicopters, according to the ODF Facebook page. Other water dogs were investigated in the area throughout Monday including one in the Applegate area. Rain accompanying the Monday thunderstorm is anticipated to extinguish some of the potential lighting starts, according to the page.
A red flag warning is in effect for the Rogue Valley area, according to Watch Duty. The warning will be in effect from 2 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 16, according to the National Weather Service, due to elevated winds and low humidity. Those conditions make it likely new and existing fires can grow rapidly out of control. Outdoor burning is banned during fire season.
To sign up for Everbridge Alerts, visit the city of Ashland’s page.
Email Ashland.news reporter Morgan Rothborne at [email protected].
