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1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate NEWS NOW Jail mental health needs climbing ... Merlin Bound sentenced to 25 years for 2013 Ashland murder ... Medford schools continue administrator shuffle ... Jail mental health needs climbing ... Merlin Bound sentenced to 25 years for 2013 Ashland murder ... Medford schools continue administrator shuffle ... WILDFIRES Overnight lightning sparks fires in Jackson County Comment By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Jun. 9, 2015 at 9:09 AM Updated Jun 9, 2015 at 5:11 PM By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Jun. 9, 2015 at 9:09 AM Updated Jun 9, 2015 at 5:11 PM » Social News Widespread lightning strikes early Tuesday sparked 13 fires in southwestern Oregon, at least five of them in Jackson County, and wildland firefighters were gearing up for more as the day heated up and winds increased. Officials with the Oregon Department of Forestry confirmed a quarter-acre fire at Pikes Peak, about two miles across the Rogue River from Valley of the Rogue State Park, south of Interstate 5. Four additional fires — anywhere from one-tenth to one-hundredth of an acre in size — popped up in the nearby Galls Creek drainage. "Most of those are a single tree," ODF spokesman Brian Ballou said. But by 4:30 p.m., forestry officials were reporting a five-acre blaze in the Foots Creek drainage near Gold Hill and a 15-acre fire in the Soda Mountain Wilderness, five miles south of Pinehurst. A helicopter was reportedly being used to drop water on the Foots Creek fire. From 3 to about 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, the National Weather Service recorded 221 lightning strikes across Jackson County, with a few in Klamath and Josephine counties included in that number. "The probability is we'll find more (fires) once the sun heats the ground up," Ballou said Tuesday. "I'm certain we'll be doing this all day." Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil . By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Jun. 9, 2015 at 9:09 AM Updated Jun 9, 2015 at 5:11 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501