Public Tip Helps Crews Respond to Human Caused Fire

Release Date: Aug 21, 2015

Thanks to a smoke report by a private citizen, Willamette National Forest fire fighters were able to respond quickly to a blaze along Salmon Creek Road (Forest Service Road 24) Thursday morning. Using hose, handline and lots of water, crews stopped the fire at less than an acre.

 

“This fire could have threatened the Oakridge community, if it had grown much larger,” said Jose Mercado, Incident Commander for the fire. “We are thankful to the person who called it in.” 

 

The cause was determined to be human. A Fire Investigation Working Group, made up of a variety of local, state and federal agencies, is investigating the cause of this and several other fires in the Oakridge/Westfir area.

 

 

“We’re asking for the public’s help to prevent any new human-caused fires,” South Cascade District Forest Greg Wagenblast said. “Statewide, our resources are limited due to the number of large fires currently burning.”

Fires can start in a variety of accidental ways. Citizens are urged to help keep their community safe from wildfires.  Here’s how:

• Exercise caution when using any spark producing equipment around your home. Don’t smoke outside, put away the lawnmower and hide matches and lighters from kids.

 

• Follow fire restrictions in place in your area. Check city, state and federal webpages and message boards.

 

• Talk to your neighbors about the extreme fire danger and precautions everyone should be taking.

 

• If you smell something, say something. You may be the first person to discover a wayward spark. Call 911 if you discover a fire.  And if see something suspicious, take notes and notify authorities.

 

 

“It has been unusually hot and dry this summer, so please be careful!” said Al Alcalde, Oakridge/Westfir/Hazeldell Fire Chief. “Follow the fire restrictions in effect on public lands and be careful handling anything that could cause a spark, such as your cigarettes, backyard grills and internal combustion engines.”

 

Fire restrictions vary by land jurisdiction.  For the Willamette National Forest, information can be found at www.fs.usda.gov under Fire Information. For lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry, visit http://www.oregon.gov/ODF. For the City of Oakridge, Westfir and Hazeldell rural fire protection area visit oakridgefire.org.