Two brush fires ignited by unattended burn piles

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Two brush fires, each caused by an unattended burn pile, were contained by fast responses from firefighters in Forest Grove and Lebanon on Saturday afternoon.

Just before 2 p.m., a brush fire was reported in rural Washington County on NW Agaard Road. The fire was burning in a clear cut area and spreading up a hill when firefighters arrived.

Officials said it took 30 firefighters about 20 minutes to stop the fire’s forward progress — it came within 50 feet of a house — and another 90 minutes to fully contain it and handle the hotspots. About a half-acre of land that had been logged about a year ago was burned, and Forest Grove officials said the property owner was burning cardboard that spread to vegetation on property owned by Stimson Lumber.

“Forestry officials fined the property owner,” officials said.

The other fire, in Lebanon, burned about an acre of grass and brush around 41000 Conser Hill Road. Investigators said the fire “was ignited by an unattended burn pile.”

Crew were able to quickly contain the fire before it damaged nearby structures.

No one was hurt.

Officials in both Forest Grove and Lebanon issued reminders: Never leave a burn pile unattended, have a shovel and water hose ready, and burn in a spot away from vegetation.