VALE, Ore. — Campers at Owyhee Dam in Eastern Oregon have been evacuated as a precaution after lightning touched off three wildfires in Malheur County.
The largest fire began near the dam Monday night. The fire area grew overnight to 47 square miles, or 30,000 acres.
Fire spokesman Tim Johnson says that as of early Tuesday no facilities or power lines from the irrigation and hydroelectric dam were in jeopardy.
But, he says, firefighters are facing hot, dry conditions Tuesday.
Up to a dozen campers left campgrounds along the reservoir at Lake Owyhee State Park, and sheriff’s deputies advised some campers in the canyon below the dam to leave.
Lightning Monday night touched off two smaller brush and grass fires farther south in Malheur County, east of Jordan Valley.
