Firefighters Contained Escaped Open Burns in Josephine County on Thursday
Two escaped open burns scrambled firefighters in Josephine County on Thursday afternoon.
At 3 p.m. yesterday, Rural Metro Fire Department, Grants Pass Fire & Rescue and the Oregon Department of Forestry were dispatched to a fire in the 500-block of Granite Hill Road just north of Grants Pass.
Rural Metro officials said the fire was in steep, wooded terrain after a several-days-old burn pile flared up from afternoon winds. With help from a nearby Grayback Forestry crew, the fire was quickly contained at about one acre.
At 3:30 p.m., Rural Metro and ODF responded to a second fire in the 5800-block of Riverbanks Road in the Shan Creek area. Crews were able contain the escaped open burn at 1/4-acre.
Officials said both fires highlighted the speed at which conditions can change with just a few days of dry and warm weather. Unattended burns can easily escape with wind. Heat and embers from previous burns can appear dormant under the ash surface, but suddenly spring to life.
Posted on 4/12/24 6:17AM by Sam Marsh
