The goal of the Oregon Department of Forestry is to suppress 94 percent of all fires started on the forestlands that we protect at at 10 acres or less. Here’s a story about one of them.
A member of the public, and a follower on this blog, was driving west on Highway 34 yesterday when he spotted what appeared to be a small fire and some smoke a couple of miles east of Blackberry Campground. He stopped and reported it at the Campground. This ended up being a fire at MP 18 on our forestlands that are protected out of the Toledo Unit of our West Oregon District. The first responder on this fire was Central Coast Fire and Rescue – also showing our cooperative relationships with other firefighting agencies throughout the state – and it was suppressed after reaching a size of only about 50 feet square. Crews and an engine from our Toledo Unit are out there today finishing mop-up on this fire and will continue to monitor the location in case of any weather-related flare-ups.
This is just one of the many fires throughout the state that our crews and others will respond to over the next few months, doing our best to keep them small with minimal loss to resources and at the least possible cost.
And, as always, to report a fire, dial 9-1-1.
Jeri Chase
Oregon Department of Forestry
PH: 503-945-7201
Fire Duty Pager #503-370-0403