The Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District (SHFAD) in combination with the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) responded to a report of a large natural cover fire, Oct. 2.
According to a press release, this fire was classified as an out of control illegal burn on the Upper Calapooia that threatened a structure. This triggered a first alarm response.
The first unit on scene reported the fire to be at approximately half an acre in size and moving into heavy brush at a moderate speed. This unit was also able to confirm the threat to a nearby home.
Upon the full arrival of SHFAD and ODF, firefighters got to work extinguishing the fire. Teams were able to stop the fire just feet from the home. Along with stopping the fire, crews were able to extinguish flames which had reached the top of a 75 foot tree standing near the home. Crews mopped up the remains without incident.
This fire saw an incident commander, one brush rig, one engine, and a pumper tender from Sweet Home Fire; 2 engines and 2 command staff from ODF and a water tender Brownsville Fire provided, which was canceled en route once the fire was brought under control.
This began after the inception of the Bingham Fire, just east of Sweet Home, which the district acknowledged as a clear indication that the fire season is not over. The press release ended as follows.
We would like to use this opportunity to remind residents that backyard burning is still prohibited and current conditions will likely mean a delay in the start of burn season. To find out if it is lawful to burn, residents must call the burn information line each day for the daily burning advisory. That number is 541.451.1904.