July 31, 2023 10:50 a.m. 

Early Monday morning at around 3:45 a.m. rural responders from the Kellogg Rural Fire District, Elkton Rural Fire Protection District and the Sutherlin Fire Department responded to a fire near Kellogg near milepost 7 on Highway 138W.

Rachel Pope of the Douglas Forest Protection Association said first responders found a half-acre grass and brush fire which was progressing uphill and was located in an old burn scar.

911 dispatch notified the DFPA regarding the fire. DFPA crews were on the scene by 4:30 a.m. and included five engines and two squads.  Pope said to protect the safety of first responders and the public, traffic was stopped and controlled on-scene by volunteer firefighters. Once the forward spread was knocked down and the fire was under control, the highway was reopened to traffic by around 6:30 a.m.

As of 10:00 a.m. the fire was one hundred percent plumbed and trailed, and twenty five percent mopped up. DFPA squads and engines will continue mop up throughout the day. Pope said minimal smoke may be visible in the area as crews eradicate hot spots.

The Mile Post 7 Fire is human caused and is under investigation.