Benny Westcott
Two brush fires occurred within a 24 hour time frame in the Sweet Home area on Wednesday, Sept. 20 and Thursday, Sept. 21.
The first fire, at 10:52 a.m. on Wednesday on Mountain Home Drive, was started by someone burning debris. It burned approximately a quarter of an acre, and got up to a home owner’s shop before it was put out. The shop was threatened by the fire, according to Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District Chief Nick Tyler.
The next day, a fire was reported at 9:55 a.m. behind Bi-Mart. It appeared to be caused by the transient population, according to Tyler. The fire burned about a fifth of an acre and caused an evacuation of Bi-Mart. The evacuation lasted about 10 minutes. No damage was caused to the store and no one was injured.
“This fire did get close to Bi-Mart,” Tyler said, adding that “SHFD crews, with Oregon Department of Forestry crews, did a great job of stopping it from getting to the building.”