ODF Investigating Cause of Wildfire on Placer Road in the Sunny Valley Area
The Oregon Department of Forestry found itself in the unusual position this week of battling a wildfire in the Sunny Valley area just two days before Thanksgiving.
Rural Metro Fire Department reports that ODF crews were working late Tuesday to knock down a fire about four to five miles up Placer Creek Road. The fire was reported to be around 15 acres in size and it was not threatening any structures.
ODF Southwest reached full containment by Tuesday night. Smoke from the fire may have been visible to residents in the Sunny Valley-Wolf Creek area. The cause of the fire was under investigation.
The 2023 fire season has long been over, but officials remind people who live in southwest Oregon that they need to be concerned about fire all year long.
Some fuel types that are shaded or protected from soaking rains may still remain drier than expected for this time of year. It takes a lot of moisture to penetrate larger fuels like logs that can carry flames to other fuels.
Fog often sinks low in the valleys during high pressure systems that also produce sunshine in the higher elevations. While we are damp and cold from the fog, the mountains are exposed to sun and warmer weather which dries out fuels. It also reminds us to monitor our open burns and safeguard against them escaping.
Posted on 11/23/23 6:39AM by Sam Marsh
