By Jennifer Seeker, Andrea Pettes, & Associated Press
 
September 16, 2008
 
MEDFORD, Ore. -- The National Weather Service in Medford canceled it's red flag warning Tuesday night, but not before lightning sparks ignited several grass fires.
 
Several fires were reported along Highway 140. Residents in Eagle Point reported seeing flames from their homes. Another fire was reported north of Crater Lake. Fire crews are trying to access those fires, but they say they won't know how much is burning and where all the fires are until Wednesday morning.
 
Meanwhile, fire crews are on alert, including those that have been brought in to Southern Oregon from across the nation to deal with the expected dry lightning.
 
Three 20-person Hotshot crews are in place in Medford, and two are in Roseburg. The U.S. Forest Service also has crews lined up and ready to go. The Northwestern Interagency Coordination Center has also sent crews to Southern Oregon from Utah, Montana and other areas across the nation.
 
There are currently 4 air tankers prepped and ready go at the Medford Air Tanker Base, which crews say can be up and flying within minutes.
 
The month-old Rattle fire east of Roseburg grew Monday, shooting flames 100 feet high. It is now burning within a 5,700-acre area. Firefighters say a stretch of Oregon 138 remains closed, and PacifiCorp has re-energized two power lines at the southern end of the fire.
 
"We are a fire regime forest. We normally get these three lightning busts that occur mid-July, mid-August, and mid-September. So this time around the time when we start to get these kind of weather patterns coming in, hotter dryer weather and lightning activities," says Patty Burel with Rogue River Siskiyou National Forest.
 
Fire experts say crews will be repositioned out of Southern Oregon if they see the need in other areas of the state.
 
These air tankers go out on several missions each year. The Medford air tanker base, usually houses several tankers, because of its location to several areas, both north and south.
 
Fire experts say moisture levels are at its lowest points of the summer, making the chance for fire high. Jeree Mills of the Federal Dispatching Agency in Portland says the forests are as dry as they've been all summer, especially in Southern Oregon. More than 80 percent of the fires that happen in Southern Oregon forests are caused by lightning.