July 30, 2022 7:00 a.m.

Crews with the Douglas Forest Protective Association and North Douglas County Fire and EMS responded to a quarter of an acre fire Friday afternoon at 4:00 p.m.

The fire was on Territorial Highway in Curtin.

Public Information Officer Rachel Pope said fire suppression teams were able to quickly stop the forward spread of the fire in just a few minutes, transitioning to mop up a short time later. The fire was cleared by 4:40 p.m. Pope said the cause of the fire was determined be due to the legal use of a hay bailer.

The culture and harvest of agricultural crops is exempt from regulated use restrictions, but Pope said the fire is a great reminder that fuels are dry. With the current increased and prolonged temperatures and lack of substantial rain, fuels are dry and ready to burn. Residents should take precautions and ensure they follow fire preparedness procedures.

For more information on Public Use Restrictions and Industrial Fire Precaution Levels, go to: www.dfpa.net