Increased fire activity across the Pacific Northwest due to rising temperatures, thunderstorms

PORTLAND, Ore. - The United States Forest Service says that rising temperatures and thunderstorms have sparked increased fire activity across the Pacific Northwest.

Sustained high temperatures are drying out fuels, causing holdover fires—those that linger undetected after lightning strikes—to become more active. This has resulted in a rise in initial firefighting efforts.

Many wildfires have been successfully contained by firefighters before they had the chance to grow significantly, but the current conditions have led to the emergence of several new large fires across the region. Fire managers are actively assessing resource needs to ensure adequate responses and reallocating personnel and equipment as necessary.

The forecast predicts cooler temperatures and increased chances of rain