June 14, 2024 3:50 a.m. 

Crews with the Douglas Forest Protective Association responded to four separate fires across the district on Thursday prior to 5:00 p.m.

Public Information Officer Rachel Pope said at about 10:00 a.m. resources from Douglas County Fire District No. 2, Winston-Dillard Fire District and DFPA were dispatched to a reported grass fire near the 2800 block of Rice Creek Road near Winston. Pope said on arrival the fire was found to be actively climbing up a hillside in light fuels, including grass, vegetation and dead and downed trees. Responding resources acted immediately and had the forward spread knocked down at an estimated 2 to 3 acres. DFPA resources, including a dozer, and several engines lined and plumbed the fire. DFPA crews remained on scene performing mop-up.

Around 2:00 p.m. resources from the Sutherlin Police Department, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Oakland Fire Department, Sutherlin Fire Department, North Douglas County Fire & EMS, Umpqua Valley Ambulance, Douglas Electric Cooperative, and DFPA responded to a grass fire near the 1200 block of Green Valley Road near Oakland. Pope said the cause of the grass fire was a result of a nearby vehicle crash and downed power line. On scene rural fire departments had the forward spread of the fire knocked down quickly. DFPA crews took over command and performed mop-up until the heat was 100 percent extinguished and there was no further threat to the wildland.

At approximately 3:20 p.m., crews from Douglas County Fire District No. 2, Lookingglass Fire Department, and DFPA responded to a ¼ acre grass and brush fire near the 800 block of Dairy Loop Road in the Lookingglass area. Responding crews had the fire knocked down quickly and 100 percent mopped up before turning the scene back to the landowner. No structures were threatened by this fire.

Pope said at around 3:30 p.m., crews from Glendale Fire Department, Azalea Fire Department and DFPA responded to an estimated 1-acre grass fire near the 4200 block of Mount Reuben Road in the Glendale area. On scene, crews found the grass fire was moving towards timber and had the forward spread of the fire knocked down quickly. DFPA crews remained on the scene performing mop-up. Pope said the cause of this fire is human caused and remains under investigation.

For more information on fire season regulations, go to www.dfpa.net