A vegetation fire burned approximately three-quarters of an acre in the 4000 block of Upper Berlin Drive Friday afternoon, May 26.
Lebanon Fire District firefighters responded to the fire during the early afternoon on Friday. When the Battalion Chief arrived, he found approximately three-quarters of an acre of mixed vegetation burning through and into the trees. Volunteer firefighters from the nearby Berlin station quickly arrived on a brush vehicle and began fire suppression.
Additional crews from Lebanon arrived shortly after and began to assist the brush vehicle by deploying progressive hose lays up to the head of the fire to cut it off. Oregon Department of Forestry assisted at the scene by supplying a brush engine and supervisor, working another flank of the blaze. The fire was quickly contained, and crews remained on scene for an additional hour mopping up hotspots.
Lebanon Firefighters responded with 14 personnel on two brush trucks, one ladder truck, one engine, one water tender, and one pumper-tender, as well as three staff officers. ODF assisted by sending one brush truck with three personnel and one supervisor.
Lebanon Fire District was also assisted from Albany Fire Department and Sweet Home Fire District by sending an engine and ALS medic unit to help cover the city for additional calls.
Firefighters would like to remind citizens of the importance of attending burn piles. Even though the area appears to still be green, the warmer weather is quickly drying the area out and the potential of a fire getting out of control is great.
Caall the Linn County burn number at (541) 451-1904 before doing any burning.