FOREST GROVE, Ore. (KATU) — A brush fire on NW Agaard Road in rural Washington County was contained by firefighters on Saturday, April 26, after it threatened a nearby home.
Forest Grove Fire & Rescue was dispatched at 1:56 p.m. and arrived 17 minutes later to find the fire burning in a clear cut area and spreading uphill.
Firefighters reportedly quickly deployed hose lines around both sides of the fire, halting its forward progress within 20 minutes.
It took an additional hour and a half to mop up hotspots and dig a containment line around the perimeter. The fire ultimately burned approximately half an acre of land, which had been logged about a year ago and replanted with new trees over the winter.
READ ALSO: PBOT offers free compost from past Leaf Days
The fire came within 50 feet of a nearby house but fortunately burned away from it.
An investigation revealed that the property owner was burning cardboard, which spread to nearby vegetation on logging property owned by Stimson Lumber. Varying winds contributed to the fire’s rapid spread up the hillside.
The area is jointly covered by Forest Grove Fire & Rescue and the Oregon Department of Forestry. Due to the fire starting on one property and spreading to another, forestry officials fined the property owner.
Authorities remind residents to adhere to local regulations regarding burning. “If you’re allowed to burn, never leave a burn pile unattended and have a shovel and water hose ready to be used,” officials said. They also advised burning in areas away from vegetation that could catch fire.
Forest Grove Fire & Rescue received assistance from Banks Fire District, Cornelius Fire Department, Oregon Department of Forestry, Gaston Fire District, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, and Oregon State Police.
The response included six brush units, two engines, two water tenders, and 30 firefighters.
