Firefighters had a hand line around 20% of the Bobby Lake Fire in the Deschutes National Forest Tuesday morning.
Central Oregon Fire Information said the fire is about nine acres. It’s burning in timber about one mile east of Bobby Lake and four miles southeast of Waldo Lake.
Three additional crews were set to arrive Tuesday morning to continue hand line construction as well as a crew of smokejumpers.
Air attack, air tankers, helicopters and rappellers have also been used to fight the fire. Air tankers were able to get retardant around the perimeter of the fire before dark Monday.
“These fires were both determined to be lightning caused,” said Jaimie Olle, public information officer for the Central Oregon Fire Management Service. “It’s obviously been a few days since we’ve seen lightning through the area. Once lightning strikes, it can creep and smolder and when we get to the intense heat of the day or just the right wind, it will pick up. That’s when we start seeing wisps of smoke that are noticeable and detectable by firefighters and aerial resources.”
Lightning has caused more than 100 fires in the first two weeks of August.
Officials are crediting fire crews quick responses with keeping most fires small before they threaten nearby communities.
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