August 27, 2023 4:00 p.m. 

Late Saturday afternoon crews with the Douglas Forest Protective Association and Douglas County Fire District No.2 responded to a 5.2-acre grass and timber fire near the 8000 block of Old Highway 99 North, north of Winchester,

DFPA Public Information Officer Rachel Pope said upon arrival, firefighters found a slow-moving fire, located in steep terrain, with heavy dead and downed trees. Pope said crews began an aggressive initial attack. That included firefighters, three single-engine air tankers, hand crews, a dozer and a water tender.

Collaborative crews were able to finish lining and plumbing the fire by 11:30 p.m. and began mopping up.

Pope said additional resources including a twenty-person hand crew, fallers and tenders arrived Sunday morning to assist with mop-up. Mop-up will continue on this fire for several days to come and will transition into patrol for heat and smoke checks.

No homes or structures were threatened by this fire. The cause is under investigation.

Fire season information is at www.dfpa.net