The Douglas Forest Protective Association (DFPA) has had a busy Friday, suppressing four fires across the county.
This morning, DFPA located a lightning fire in the Cavitt Creek area, east of Glide. DFPA located a second lightning fire this afternoon from yesterday’s storm in the Thunder Mountain area, also east of Glide. Both fires were stopped at less than an acre in size. Firefighters remain on scene of the fires, improving containment lines and mopping up hot spots. DFPA continues to monitor the area where 16 lightning strikes hit on DFPA protected land from yesterday’s storm with ground resources, aviation resources, and their camera detection systems.
Around 12:30 this afternoon, DFPA and Tenmile Fire Department responded to a natural cover fire in the Tenmile area, on Horseshoe Lane. Firefighters arrived on scene of a grass fire threatening a home, a fifth-wheel trailer, and an outbuilding. The fire burned around three sides of the house, and up to the trailer and the outbuilding, but all three were saved. Investigators determined that the fire was started from an arching transformer on a power pole near the property. The fire burned about 1/2 acre.
DFPA responded to their fourth fire of the day a little after 1 p.m. Firefighters from DFPA and Azalea Rural Fire Department responded to a slash pile that had rekindled near Russel Creek, off of Upper Cow Creek Road. While the fire did not spread from the previously burned area, there was potential. The pile had reportedly been burned a considerable time ago. With two such rekindled debris pile fires in the past week, DFPA is asking residents to check any burn pile which has been burned earlier this year. If any heat or smoke is detected, immediately call DFPA or 911.
With more seasonable temperatures predicted for the area, DFPA is reminding residents that the fire danger is still extreme on the Douglas District, and that the Regulated Use Closure for the general public remains in effect. Hunters and recreationalists heading out to the woods are also reminded that many landowners have closed their land to motorized and foot traffic due to the extreme fire conditions. The Bureau of Land Management also has a closure in effect around the Douglas Complex Fires, as firefighters continue to work on the fire.