On August 10, a very hot day with temperatures reaching 99 degrees with low humidity, units from Jacksonville Fire and Oregon Department of Forestry were dispatched to a fire just south of the Beekman Woods. While Jacksonville Fire was responding to the fire, there was a visible column of smoke spewing from the hillside within the city limits of Jacksonville. Upon arrival, Jacksonville Fire observed about a half an acre of grass and brush on fire and a property owner attempting to extinguish the fire utilizing a garden hose. Crews on the ground were assisted by an Oregon Department of Forestry helicopter which dropped several buckets of water on the fire—it was extinguished within twenty minutes. The ODF hand crew provided a fire break around the fire perimeter and engine crews deployed hose lines completely around the fire’s perimeter. ODF will be conducting the investigation on the cause of the fire. The fire is rumored to have been caused when a “smoke-bomb” type of device to kill a ground squirrel in its hole ignited the grass.
Jacksonville Fire asked the Review to remind everyone that we are in extreme fire behavior conditions and to observe all rules about mowing and operation of all equipment. For more information regarding regulations, please call Jacksonville Fire or the Oregon Department of Forestry.