Wind Causes Agricultural Burn to Spread‏ Near Jefferson

It is a reminder that fire season is not over. Open burning is not permitted at this time, and agricultural burning is only allowed by permit.

File photo

(JEFFERSON, Ore.) - Jefferson Fire District fire apparatus and personnel were called to a brush fire in the area of I-5 and Ankeny Hill Road late this afternoon.

Elaine Parrott, Public Information Officer with the Jefferson Fire District, says John and Amy Henninger, residents of 889 Ankeny Hill Road, were burning three piles of sawdust and brush in different locations when the gusty afternoon winds caused two of the brush piles to spread, starting multiple fires in an adjacent field.

Firefighters from Turner Fire District also responded and assisted in extinguishing the fires, Parrott said. A quick response kept the fire damage minimal.

"There was no value to the two-acre area that burned and there were no structures threatened."

The couple that lit the sawdust also manages the Tru Line Retriever Kennels, Parrott says, "but the kennel area is completely safe from any fire spreading to the kennel complex."

"Although the weather is cooler, the vegetation is still very dry," Assistant Chief Scott Shepherd from Jefferson Fire said.

He cautions people to recognize that fire season is still present and to exercise caution when in the outdoors. Yard debris open burning is not permitted at this time. Agricultural burning is allowed only by permit.