September 13, 2020 7:45 a.m.

A fire burned 13 acres Saturday afternoon, approximately six miles west of Drain, near Putnam Valley Road.

Kyle Reed of the Douglas Forest Protective Association said crews from DFPA and North Douglas County Fire and EMS arrived on the scene around 12:00 p.m. and reported that the Putnam Valley Fire was approximately five to ten acres and was on top of a ridge. Reed said the fire was burning in re-prod and second growth timber and was slowly backing down the hillside. A DFPA bull dozer and an excavator from a nearby industrial operator was used to construct containment lines around the blaze while firefighters installed hose lays to cool the perimeter of the fire. Reed said aviation resources were not available to assist with suppression efforts due to the thick blanket of smoke across the region.

Around 5:30 p.m. the incident commander for the Putnam Valley Fire reported that containment lines had been completed around the entire area and that crews were switching their efforts to mopping up the smoking and smoldering material in the burned area. Due to the amount of mop up required to fully extinguish the fire, crews were expected to remain engaged on the fire through at least Sunday evening.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. Anyone with information about the fire is asked to contact DFPA.