Some 13 firefighters extinguished a one acre fire Tuesday in timber owned by Cascade Timber Consulting and Rosoboro near West Brush Creek.
Lee Vaughn of the Oregon Department of Forestry said and ODF employee noticed a smoke plume while he was driving home near Crawfordsville.
“Although it’s still under investigation, we believe the fire was started from a recreational camp fire. Not so much from the main fire but from spotting that was whipped up by wind,” Vaughn said.
Firefighters from the Linn and East Lane districts answered the call.
“East Lane sent a dozer to cut a cat line and two 1,000 gallon engines,” Vaughn said. “We sent three 1,000 gallon engines and Weyerhaeuser flew its helicopter for about 45 minutes for us.”
The majority of the fire was extinguished by 8 p.m. but six smokes were put out Wednesday morning.
Vaughn estimated cost of the fire was bout $5,000 not including damage to the timber.
90 degree temperatures were a factor in the ODF and USFS implementing regulated fire season along the Quartzville corridor.
All lands protected by the Sweet Home Unit of the Cascade District, which are within one-half of one mile of Quartzville Road from Green Peter Dam 16.5 miles to the U.S. Forest Service, Willamette National Forest Boundary. Descriptions and maps of this described area are on file at the State Forester’s Office, in Salem, Oregon, and at the Sweet Home Unit Office of the Cascade District in Sweet Home, Oregon.
The following restrictions apply:
1. Smoking is prohibited while traveling, except in vehicles on improved roads.
2. Open fires are prohibited, including campfires, charcoal fires, cooking fires and warming fires, except in installed metal fire rings at designated locations. Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed.
3. Chain saw use is prohibited.
4. Use of motorized vehicles, including motorcycles and all terrain vehicles, is prohibited, except on improved roads.
5. Possession of the following fire fighting equipment is required while traveling, except on state and county roads: one axe, one shovel, and one gallon of water or one operational 2* pound or larger fire extinguisher.
6. Use of fireworks is prohibited.
7. Cutting, grinding and welding of metal is prohibited.
The State Forester or an authorized representative must approve any waiver of these requirements in writing.
As used in this proclamation, unless the context otherwise requires:
Definitions:
“All-terrain vehicles”, “motor vehicles”, and “motorcycles”, are defined in Oregon Administrative Rule 629-041-0005.”
“Campfire” means any open fire used for cooking, personal warmth, lighting, ceremonial or aesthetic purposes that is hand built and that is not associated with any debris disposal activities.
“Fireworks” means any combustible or explosive device or any other article which was prepared for the purpose of providing a visible or audible effect by combustion, explosion, deflagration or detonation, including firecrackers, fountains, skyrockets, snakes and sparklers.
“Improved road” means a road maintained for the use of passenger cars and which is clear of flammable debris.
“Open fire” means the outdoor burning of any matter in such a way that the combustion air is not effectively controlled and the products of combustion are emitted directly into the atmosphere without passing through a stack or chimney.
“Restrictions” means those requirements which must be complied with when on lands subject to this proclamation, unless waived by the forester. Such requirements do not apply to activities for which a permit has been issued in accordance with ORS 477.625.
“Shovel” means a digging tool having a handle of not less than 26 inches in length and a blade of approximately 8 inches in width.