Firefighters from around the area converged to stop a fire that destroyed a mobile home and threatened other structures in the 40200 block of Hilltop Drive in Lebanon Saturday afternoon, Aug. 8.
Lebanon Fire District personnel responded at approximately 2:38 p.m. to the report of the mobile home fire. Due to the rural location and lack of fire hydrants in the area, the battalion chief requested two additional water tenders to assist with water supply operations.
Upon arrival, the BC found a fully involved double-wide mobile home with wind-driven fire rapidly spreading uphill through heavy brush toward another structure approximately 500 feet away.
Lebanon Fire District, Oregon Department of Forestry, and mutual-aid fire crews immediately began a direct attack on the fire using engines and brush vehicles. At the same time, additional personnel, including Linn County Sheriff’s Office deputies, began evacuating the 18 residents from homes at the end of Hilltop Drive.
As the fire continued to spread, a second and then third alarm was requested to bring additional firefighters, apparatus, and water resources to the incident.
Firefighters faced several significant challenges, including narrow dirt roads, steep terrain, extreme heat, and thick blackberry bushes and brush that made access and movement difficult. Firefighters initially responded in structural firefighting gear for the mobile home fire, but with the rapidly spreading vegetation fire, they had no time to change into wildland attire until after the fire was knocked down.
Approximately 20 minutes after the arrival of the first LFD personnel, firefighters were able to stop the forward progress, preventing it from reaching the threatened structure. Crews continued to battle flare-ups and cool hot spots throughout the afternoon.
ODF responded with a dozer, which established a fire line around the entire fire, helping crews secure the perimeter.
Evacuations remained in place while firefighters worked to eliminate remaining threats. At approximately 5:35 p.m., evacuations were lifted after crews determined the immediate threat had been controlled.
Firefighters remained on scene until approximately 8 p.m., completing overhaul and mop-up operations.
The only structure lost in the incident was the original mobile home. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
This incident required a significant regional response due to the rapid spread of the fire, challenging terrain, and lack of hydrants.
Lebanon Fire District was assisted by personnel and equipment from Sweet Home, Brownsville, Halsey-Shedd, Albany, Scio and Tangent fire districts, ODF and LCSO, totaling eight brush vehicles, four engines, two medic units with their assigned firefighters, seven water tenders, two chief officers, and one dozer.
While Lebanon crews were committed to the incident, Albany Fire Department provided an engine and two medic units to Lebanon Fire District to maintain emergency response coverage within the district.