Lightning hits Black Butte and sparks fires

Five lightning strikes caused small fires on Black Butte Monday evening, July 3.

According to the Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center in Prineville, there were 24 total “incidents” or fires caused by lightning in Central Oregon as a result of a storm that brewed up around 7 p.m. and lasted until about 9:30 p.m.

The storm brought rain and hail in some areas.

The Black Butte blazes were on both the north and south slopes of the cinder cone and all were 1/4-acre or less in size. Sisters Ranger District, Black Butte Ranch fire personnel and Oregon Department of Forestry all responded to the fires.

Four of the blazes were out as of Monday night; the fifth was located early Tuesday morning and a crew remained on it Tuesday morning.

Fire crews will continue to monitor the strike areas for several days.