Brush fire a sign of the season

The Cloverdale Rural Fire Protection District responded to the first brush fire of the year on Thursday, March 14.

A field fire grew out of control in the 18000 block of Highway 126. Although attended, the reported 10-mph winds in the afternoon quickly blew the fire out of control. The temperature was 62 degrees at the time.

Smoke temporarily obscured traffic on Highway 126 as firefighters quickly controlled the blaze. Cloverdale firefighters responded with two brush trucks, one water-tender, and six firefighters. The district was assisted by the Oregon Department of Forestry and Deschutes County Sheriff's Office.

The fire burned about two acres of grass, several fence posts, and was stopped just before it crossed onto a neighbor's field, which contained a wooden storage shed.

Thad Olsen, chief of Cloverdale Fire District, reminds residents that no burning is allowed during periods of high winds, and persons conducting burns should do so during the morning hours, when humidity is high, and the normal afternoon breeze has not kicked up.

"Winds at the time were reported by the National Weather Service as being 10 miles per hour," Olsen reported. "Although this does not sound high, it was enough to blow this fire out of control, and nearly onto a neighboring property. Although it is still very early in the year, weather conditions have been such that light flashy fuels, such as grasses, can be dry and easily ignitable."

Senate Bill 360 makes property owners responsible for any fire which escapes from their property. Chief Olsen reminds everyone to be especially cautious during this time of year when contemplating burning, whether it is a burn barrel or a field.