Lebanon firefighters early Sunday evening, June 25, to a vegetation fire near Grant Street bridge.
Lebanon Fire District received a call about smoke along the river and a battalion chief responded about 5:41 p.m. to the area to find an approximately three-quarters to one-acre fire burning in the brush and trees just east of the bridge, approximately a quarter of a mile off Brewster Road.
Additional fire crews responded, and a bulldozer was requested from the Oregon Department of Forestry due to the terrain and the difficulty getting fire apparatus into the area. A fire pump was set at the Santiam River and LFD crews were able to lay 2,300 feet of supply line down an older dozer trail made the previous year from a similar fire in the area. Crews then were able to begin extinguishing after the dozer built a fire line around the blaze.
Firefighters where on scene for four hours extinguishing and mopping up the fire. One brush unit remained on scene for the night to watch for flareups and to secure equipment that will be used in the morning to rework the area. No injuries were reported, and the fire remains under investigation at this time.
The Lebanon Fire District responded with 23 personnel on 12 apparatus. Albany Fire provided coverage to the district during the event and the Oregon Department of Forestry provided support at the scene.
Linn County Sheriff’s Office assisted with traffic control, as well as the Linn County Road Department.
Lebanon Fire is reminding residents that all outdoor fires should be continuously monitored, and on-site water should be available to prevent the fire from spreading. The seasonal backyard burn ban is currently in effect.