PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Major wildfires have yet to hit Oregon, making it the only state in the West that has not been scorched this fire season.
Although a wet spring and occasional rains have helped ward off wildfires so far, fire officials say drier, warmer weather is on the way. That could spark what's expected to be another volatile fire season in Oregon.
``It's the lull before the storm,'' said David Widmark, spokesman for the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center in Portland. ``We're currently the blessed one, but that could change in a spark.''
Wildfires have already scorched more than 4.6 million acres across the United States this year, with 11 blazes currently raging in Alaska and five in California, according to the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho. Washington state is the site of three active wildfires, whereas Utah and Arizona have two, and Nevada one.
Spokeswoman Rose Davis said wildfires in the Lower 48 states continue to lag behind the national 10-year average, due to wet conditions, fewer storms and fire preparedness efforts. Experts expect hot, dry weather and thunderstorms to move into California and Utah this weekend, she said, possibly pushing into the Northwest.
In Oregon, regular showers have dampened most of the 5,000-plus lightning strikes to hit the state, Widmark said. Small, strategically placed fire crews have also helped prevent most blazes from spreading more than a few acres, he said.
``We've just been able to dodge the bullet,'' said Widmark, noting that Oregon is in its fifth year of drought. ``We still have some very dry fuels out there and dry weather ahead.''
Despite a later start, meteorologists and fire experts at the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center predict this year's fire season could rival those of the last two years. The 2002 Biscuit wildfire, the nation's largest, burned 500,000 acres in southwestern Oregon.
Oregon forestry officials say they're prepared for a potentially brutal fire season.
The Oregon Department of Forestry has hired 729 seasonal firefighters and 298 private contract crews of 20 people each, according to spokesman Rod Nichols. Additional help could come from the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management.
The Oregon agency also contracted four large air tankers and seven to eight helicopters, after the forest service grounded 33 tankers in May, citing safety concerns. The large aircraft are capable of dumping up to 3,000 gallons of chemical and water-based retardant.
Jeff Schwanke, the southwest Oregon district forester, said the helicopters and tankers have helped fire crews in Jackson and Josephine counties battle 110 small blazes this summer. The largest burned just 40 acres.
Still, Schwanke said, the sun, hot winds and dry lightning strikes expected later this week could set the rugged, heavily forested area ablaze.
``Thunderstorms following 100-plus-degree weather,'' he said. ``It's a bad combination.''
