Originally posted on or around Aug 20, 2008

I was up on Big Slide Mtn today and could see several fires burning within the Bull of the Woods or nearby.  One was about a quarter mile from me, along the ridge which continues to the east from Big Slide Mtn.  It looked like it had been burning on the south-facing slope, which was still producing a lot of smoke, and had come up to the top of the ridge.  I couldn't actually see any fire, but could hear it burning on the ground.  Also two smaller smoke columns maybe 1/2 mile north of there on the west facing slopes.  And quite a bit of smoke from somewhere near the upper Collawash or lower Elk Lake Creek.  More smoke columns in the distance several ridges to the south.

While I was up there, a small plane was flying around observing all the smoke columns.  Followed by a helicopter making numerous passes through the area the rest of the afternoon.  So I assume that the FS is informed of these fires.

No doubt this wet weather will keep these fires from spreading for a while at least.

Originally posted by Kevin Wright on 8/20/08; 2:50:42 PM

I just looked at the Willamette National Forest homepage, and there is a link to current fires started by the recent lightning storms, and it is impressive. Lots of them in the Idanha & Marion Forks areas, and lots in the Mt.Jefferson Wilderness. I'd imagine most of them are small, and most probably "low risk", especially with the recent deluge of rain.