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Fire scorches 4.4 acres of grass on Marks Ridge

Fire burned 4.4 acres of brush and grass in the 42255 Marks Ridge Road on Sept. 15.

Firefighters responded at 1:59 p.m. They arrived to find a slow-moving cut-grass fire behind a house, said Fire Chief Dave Barringer. The fire had spread to about 2 acres.

The fire increased in intensity as it traveled northeast from a wind and fuel load change, Barringer said. The fuel changed to tall grass and torched a half dozen trees on property managed by Cascade Timber Consulting.

The owner, Dale Burnett, had been out killing gophers with traps, Barringer said. He was using a Honda four-wheeler to get around and found a half-acre fire behind him.

He drove to his house and instructed his wife to call 9-1-1, Barringer said. He had not been smoking and had used nothing but traps.

The owner told Barringer that the only thing that could have started the fire was his four-wheeler, Barringer said. On inspection, the Honda had a fully intact spark arrester and appeared to be operating normally.

The ODF investigated and determined there was no other possible ignition source and that something hot must have fallen from the four-wheeler to start the fire, Barringer said.

Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District and the Oregon Department of Forestry Sweet Home Unit responded with four pieces of apparatus and six personnel. Lebanon Fire Department responded but the fire was extinguished before its personnel and equipment arrived.

No citations were issued.

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