Albany Fire Department Contains Brush Fire At Truax Park; Evacuation Notice Lifted (Photo) - 07/22/26

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ALBANY, Ore. — July 22, 2026 — The Albany Fire Department successfully contained a brush fire in Truax Park on Tuesday evening after a multi-agency response that prevented damage to nearby homes and resulted in no reported injuries.

At approximately 3:50 p.m. on July 22, Albany Fire Department crews responded to reports of a natural cover fire in Truax Park, located at 34600 Riverside Drive. Upon arrival, firefighters encountered a large, fast-moving brush fire traveling east. Initial suppression efforts were challenged by difficulty locating the exact fire origin and limited access to the affected area.

As a precaution, a Level 2 ("Be Set") evacuation notice was issued for 35 homes along Riverside Drive. The evacuation notice was lifted at approximately 7:30 p.m. after forward progression was stopped and conditions improved.

A second alarm was requested to bring additional personnel and equipment to the scene. Mutual aid was provided by the Corvallis Fire Department, Tangent Rural FireDistrict, Brownsville Rural Fire District, Halsey-Shedd Rural Fire District, the Oregon Department of Forestry, Sweet Home Fire District's wildland hand crew, and the Linn County Sheriff's Office. Helicopter support was also requested through the Oregon State Fire Marhal's Office.  

Forward spread of the fire was stopped at approximately 7:00 p.m. Crews remained on scene conducting mop-up operations to extinguish remaining hot spots and secure the fire perimeter.

During the incident, to maintain emergency response coverage throughout the City of Albany, the Albany Fire Department activated a third alarm. The Corvallis Fire Department and Jefferson Rural Fire Protection District provided additional resources to ensure continued service for other emergencies.

The fire is estimated to have burned between 15 and 20 acres. No injuries were reported, and no homes or structures were damaged. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Commercial Fire In Millersburg (Photo) - 07/11/26

At approximately 8:40 p.m., the Albany Fire Department responded to a reported commercial structure fire at the Arauco manufacturing facility, located at 2550 NE Old Salem Road. A fire was reported on the roof of the facility, which manufactures engineered wood products, including particleboard.

Fire crews arrived to find active fire burning on the roof of the large industrial building and extending into several large air ducts within the facility. Fire suppression efforts were complicated by the size of the structure, the challenges associated with safely accessing the fire area, and the need to extend hose lines long distances to reach the seat of the fire. 
 

Firefighters successfully confined the fire to its area of origin and the associated ductwork, preventing further extension into the facility. Crews worked for four hours to bring the fire under control and completely extinguish it. 
 

During the incident, the Albany Fire Department utilized an unmanned aerial drone equipped with an infrared camera to identify hidden hot spots and assist crews in directing extinguishment efforts. The technology significantly improved firefighters' ability to locate remaining areas of heat.

The Albany Fire Department responded with 25 personnel. Mutual aid partners from the Corvallis Fire Department assisted with a ladder truck company and provided a medic unit to maintain emergency medical coverage within the City of Albany during the incident. The Jefferson Rural Fire Protection District also responded with an engine company and a water tender to support firefighting operations.

There were no civilian or firefighter injuries reported.  The cause of the fire remains under investigation.