August 20, 2024, 03:40
Douglas Forest Protective Association crews battled six small fires sparked by thunderstorms across the Douglas District on Saturday.
Spokeswoman Rachel Pope said the first of several forecast storms began around 10 a.m. and activated aerial and ground reconnaissance. Pope said firefighters responded to a total of 26 calls for suspected smoke. Thanks to the rainfall that accompanied these storms, all of the fires were quickly contained. Each individual fire was estimated to be 0.001 acres in size and is currently under surveillance. None of the fires posed a threat to homes or structures.
The incidents included:
*5000 Roberts Creek Road Fire near Roseburg: A single downed tree was found. When DFPA arrived, a Good Samaritan was in the process of putting out the fire.
*Lawson Bar Fire, near Myrtle Creek: A single tree was found.
*Tower Fire, near Myrtle Creek: A single tree was found near radio towers above mile marker 108 southbound near Interstate 5. Due to the size of the tree, a contract feller was used.
*Camp Creek Fire near Tiller: Crews from the DFPA and Tiller Rural Fire Protection District located a single tree struck near the 2100 block of Diamond Rock Road.
*Callahan Creek Fire near Tiller: A single stump fire was identified near Callahan Creek with limited spread to surrounding grass.
*Drew Creek Fire near Tiller: A single tree fire has been located near Drew Creek.
Pope said in all of these fires, emergency crews responded immediately and searched and cleared the area.
Pope said ground, air and camera tracking continued throughout Sunday and no new fires were detected. Heat and smoke checks on all identified fires will continue for three days in a row. If heat and smoke are detected, the heat is extinguished and the count restarts. Each fire is considered officially contained when no heat or smoke is detected for three days in a row.
Pope said crews will continue to watch for smoke plumes. Any smoke sightings should be reported to 911 or directly to DFPA at 672-6507.
