DAYVILLE – Firefighters welcomed rain and cooler temperatures Tuesday as they worked several fires in the Murderers Creek area.

The fires were among several sparked by a lightning storm that tracked up through Nevada and into Eastern Oregon Friday, Sept. 30.

Over the weekend, wind and high daytime temperatures fanned three of the wildfires south of Dayville, and crews stopped a smaller lightning-caused fire west of Prairie City, officials reported.

The largest, the Murderers Creek Fire, grew to about 900 acres Monday. The fire ran from the north side of the Phillip W. Schneider Wildlife Area into the Malheur National Forest.

The fire, about 11 miles southeast of Dayville on the east side of the South Fork John Day River, was burning in a mix of grass and shrubs in the lower elevations but had moved up into timber on the upper slopes.

Crews were assisted by helicopters making bucket drops.

Two other fires in the Dayville area were less active Monday, and firefighters were working on hand lines and mop-up.

The Incident 847 fire, 14 miles southeast of Dayville, is burning along the south side of the Phillip W. Schneider Wildlife Area. It was approximately 186 acres by Monday, burning in grass, shrub and juniper.

The Incident 849 fire stalled out at 57 acres Monday, burning in timber about a half-mile east of the Murderers Creek Fire.

The Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center said there were nine hand crews, four helicopters, four engines, one dozer and a water tender, along with a range of support equipment, working the fire. The effort included 240 workers.

Hunters were asked to leave the area as a precaution, and Forest Service Roads 2170, 2150 and the road leading from the South Fork John Day into the Phillip W. Schneider Wildlife Area remained closed early this week.