VENETA, Ore. – Firefighters are actively engaged on a fire burning at the junction of Highway 126 and Highway 36 at Mapleton. The Rice Road Fire has caused the Oregon Dept. of Transportation to close both highways at the junction in both directions. Motorists are asked to avoid the area for their safety and that of firefighters working to put out the fire.
The fire was reported at 1:42 p.m. Firefighters from the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Western Lane District responded as well as firefighting units from the Coos Forest Protective Association, the USDA Forest Service and several rural fire districts. The fire is estimated at five to six acres in size. The cause is under investigation.
The Lane County Sheriff’s Office issued a Level 3 Go Now evacuation order at 2:10 p.m. for residents on Rice Road, Hillcrest Road and First Avenue in Mapleton. Questions about evacuations should be directed to the Sheriff’s Office Dispatch at 541-520-2646, option 1.
ODF has six fire engines, a hand crew of 20, two fallers, a dozer and a Type 2 (midsize) helicopter working on the fire today.
Although temperatures in the area were in the 60s today, dry conditions across much of western Oregon highlight the increasing risk of fires starting from almost any source. That’s one reason almost all of ODF’s districts are already in declared fire seasons, with various restrictions in place to reduce possible fire starts. To find restrictions in your area, go to https://gisapps.odf.oregon.gov/firerestrictions/pfr.html
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