Owyhee Canyon fire

The Owyhee Canyon fire in Malheur County was reported June 5, 2016, and flared to almost double in size, an estimated 23,000 acres, the next day.

(www.inciweb.nwcg.gov)

Updated at 10 a.m. Tuesday: Officials say the fire, which did not grow overnight, is 50 percent contained. They revised the estimated size to 20,000 acres but warned winds and high temperatures mean it is likely to spread.

A 20,000-acre fire burning in the southeastern corner of the state marks the unofficial start of Oregon's wildfire season.

The Owyhee Canyon fire in Malheur County was reported Sunday evening and flared to almost double in size Monday in windy conditions, said Larry Moore, spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management's Vale District.

Three hand crews and a hot shot crew are fighting the fire, as of late Monday morning, Moore said in a news release. Six engines, a water tender and bulldozer were among the equipment on the scene at that point, with more resources on the way.

"Fire season starts when it decides to," Moore said, noting that climate change and invasive species have contributed to seasons that begin earlier and end later. Last year's season lasted from June through October.

The fire is burning about 38 miles southwest of Jordan Valley, according to a bureau news release. It was 0 percent contained as of late Monday morning.

The smaller Palomino Hills fire in Malheur County is about 50 acres.

"Despite the wet weather earlier in the year, we still have some areas that are dangerously dry," Pat Ryan, a bureau field manager in the area, said in a statement. "It just goes to show that with the right weather event, fires can develop quickly and spread just as fast."

In south-central Oregon, fire managers recorded more than 150 lightning strikes between Friday and Sunday and reported several active wildfires. The largest is the 400-acre Draw fire about 15 miles northeast of Chiloquin.

That number of lightning strikes isn't necessarily unusual, said Lisa Swinney, a spokeswoman for the Lakeview Interagency Fire Center. Some weekends bring thousands of strikes in the area, she said.

The partnership services south-central Oregon and northwest Nevada, according to its website.

It looks as if this year's wildfire season will be an active one and may start sooner than fire seasons over the past couple years, Swinney said.

People enjoying the outdoors should reach out to the agency that manages the land they're using to ask if open fires are permitted there, she said.

"Whether you're enjoying a cigarette or campfire, you need to be mindful of where those designated areas are and respect that because it only takes a moment for a spark to take off and cause a wildfire," Swinney said.

-- Jim Ryan

jryan@oregonian.com

503-221-8005; @Jimryan015