UPDATED INFO, Aug. 2:
Yesterday at approximately 1:40 p.m. the Lebanon Fire District was dispatched for the report of a large natural cover fire in the area of Hazen Lane and Sodaville Cut-Off.
At the time of the fire, Lebanon already had crews working a fire off Shelburn Drive in Scio. Crews were released from the Scio fire to respond back for the Sodaville fire. The incident commander arrived to find an approximately three-acre fire moving rapidly through a partially harvested field with numerous homes threatened.
Initial crews went to work protecting structures. A water truck also assisted fire crews and helped prevent fire from spreading to a nearby home. Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) crews arrived and worked with LFD crews to protect structures. ODF requested a helicopter to assist with firefighting operations. LCSO arrived and facilitated level 3 evacuation orders of nearby homes.
Another property owner assisted crews by cutting a dozer line on the east side of the fire. The incident commander requested additional brush units from neighboring agencies to help combat the fire.
Lebanon was assisted by Tangent, Brownsville and Sweet Home fire departments. Albany Fire Department provided city coverage during the fire. The helicopter worked the southeast flank of the fire and was able to stop the development of the fire.
At approximately 2:49 p.m., the fire was brought under control and evacuation orders were lifted. Crews continued to mop up the fire for another four hours.
The fire was determined to be caused by farm equipment harvesting the field. The fire covered 39 acres of land. No structures were damaged from the fire and no injuries were reported.
LFD responded with seven fire apparatus and three command officers. LFD reminded the community to ensure that homes are protected and there is appropriate defensible space around property in the case of fire. For more information on defensible space, contact LFD at 541.451.1901.
Area fire agencies fought two fires today and issued a level three evacuation notice to Sodaville residents.
According to the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, one of the fires was located on Shelburn Drive in Scio, near Hess Road. The other fire was on Sodaville Cutoff Drive, south of Lebanon, near Hazen Lane.
The Sheriff’s Office activated the Emergency Operations Center to closely monitor the fires and prepare to alert residents concerning evacuations, and a level three evacuation notice (“leave now”) was put in place on Sodaville Cutoff Road between Hazen Road and Middle Ridge Road this afternoon. The evacuation notice has since been lifted.
Linn County or Benton County residents are encouraged to sign up for Linn-Benton ALERT to be registered to receive emergency notifications through EverBridge. To sign up, visit https://www.linnsheriff.org/community-resources/emergency-preparedness/.