Seconds Matter: Lebanon Crews Stop Fast-Moving Fire On Highway 34 (Photo) - 08/10/26

At approximately 1615 hours on August 10, 2026 Lebanon Fire District Medic 31 was traveling back toward Lebanon after an interfacility transfer to Albany General Hospital, when the crew noticed a small fire burning along Highway 34 near Steckley Road.

The crew stopped and requested an engine from Lebanon Fire District. They attempted to stop the fire with the ambulance's fire extinguisher, but the fire had already grown too large. At that point, the fire was approximately 30 feet by 30 feet and spreading rapidly.

BC31 upgraded the incident to a first alarm, bringing additional engines, brush trucks, and firefighters to the scene.

By the time Engine 31 arrived, the fire had grown to approximately 75 feet by 30 feet and was rapidly moving toward a nearby house. Through the quick actions of the firefighters on Medic 31 and Engine 31, they were able to stop the fire in its tracks within just a few minutes and prevent it from reaching the residence.  Additional crews assisted with mop up the fire and ensured it was completely extinguished.

The Lebanon Fire District would like to remind you to check your trailer chains before you hit the road. Dragging safety chains can strike the pavement and create sparks capable of starting a wildfire. Take a few seconds to make sure your chains are properly secured and not dragging on the roadway.  A small spark can become a fast-moving wildfire in a matter of minutes.

Firefighters In Lebanon Save Multiple Structures After Residents Evacuated From A Wind-driven Brush Fire (Photo) - 08/08/26

Lebanon, Oregon — August 8, 2026

At approximately 1438 hours on August 8, Lebanon Fire District was dispatched to the 40,000 block of Hilltop Drive for a reported mobile home fire. With the dry weather and high fire danger, there was significant risk that this fire would spread to the nearby vegetation.

Due to the rural location and lack of fire hydrants in the area, Battalion Chief 31 requested two additional water tenders to assist with water supply operations.

Upon arrival, BC31 found a fully involved double-wide mobile home with wind-driven fire rapidly spreading uphill through heavy brush toward another structure approximately 500 feet away.

Lebanon Fire District, Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), and mutual-aid fire crews immediately began a direct attack on the fire using engines and brush vehicles. At the same time, additional personnel, including the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, began evacuating the 18 residents from homes at the end of Hilltop Drive.

As the fire continued to spread, a second and then third alarm was requested to bring additional firefighters, apparatus, and water resources to the incident.

Firefighters faced several significant challenges, including narrow dirt roads, steep terrain, extreme heat, and thick blackberry bushes and brush that made access and movement difficult. Firefighters initially responded in structural firefighting gear for the mobile home fire but with the rapidly spreading vegetation fire, they had no time to change into wildland attire until after the fire was knocked down.

Approximately 20 minutes after BC31 arrived on scene, firefighters were able to stop the forward progress, preventing it from reaching the threatened structure. Crews continued to battle flare-ups and cool hot spots throughout the afternoon.

ODF responded with a dozer, which established a fire line around the entire fire, helping crews secure the perimeter.

Evacuations remained in place while firefighters worked to eliminate remaining threats. At approximately 1736 hours, evacuations were lifted after crews determined the immediate threat had been controlled.

Firefighters remained on scene until approximately 2000 hours completing overhaul and mop-up operations.

The only structure lost in the incident was the original mobile home. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

This incident required a significant regional response due to the rapid spread of the fire, challenging terrain, and lack of hydrants.

Lebanon Fire District was assisted by:

• Sweet Home Fire and Rescue
• Brownsville Fire District
• Halsey-Shedd Fire District
• Albany Fire Department
• Scio Fire District
• Tangent Fire District
• Oregon Department of Forestry
• Linn County Sheriff's Office

In total, the incident brought together 8 brush vehicles, 4 engines, 2 medic units with their assigned firefighters, 7 water tenders, 2 chief officers, and one dozer.

While Lebanon crews were committed to the incident, Albany Fire Department provided an engine and two medic units to Lebanon Fire District to maintain emergency response coverage within the district.

Fast-moving wildland fires like this one require a tremendous number of firefighters and resources to stop the fire's spread while simultaneously protecting threatened homes and evacuating residents. The coordinated response from fire agencies, ODF, and law enforcement was critical in stopping the fire before it reached additional structures.

Lebanon Fire District thanks all the responding agencies and firefighters who worked together to protect the residents and homes in the area.

Photo credit goes to Corbin Henderson

Lebanon Fire District Responds To Multiple Calls Including A Water Assist, Temporarily Depleting All Resources (Photo) - 08/04/26

Lebanon, Or. – August 4, 2026 – Lebanon Fire District experienced an exceptionally busy four-hour period Tuesday evening, responding to multiple simultaneous emergencies that temporarily committed all available personnel and apparatus.

The busy stretch began around 4:00 p.m. when a Lebanon Fire District ambulance transferred a patient from a hospital in Lebanon to one in Corvallis. While that ambulance was out of the district, firefighters responded to an odor investigation on Island Inn Drive and three separate medical emergencies. With all Lebanon ambulances committed, the Albany Fire Department responded under mutual aid and transported one patient to the hospital.

At approximately 5:45 p.m., crews were dispatched to a first-alarm water assist after a woman floating the South Santiam River on an inner tube was reported significantly overdue for arriving at Gill's Landing. The incident required all available Lebanon Fire District apparatus, career personnel, and volunteer firefighters.

Firefighters immediately launched the district's drone to search the river corridor from the air while another team deployed a rescue raft upstream to search the waterway. The Linn County Sheriff's Office responded with its rescue watercraft, personnel, and drone to assist with the extensive search effort.

While the water rescue operation was underway, another call developed when Lebanon Fire District received an emergent interfacility transfer to Corvallis. Fortunately, the ambulance that had completed the earlier transfer had just returned to the district and was immediately dispatched again. An emergent transfer is one in which physicians determine a patient requires rapid transport to a higher level of care, often with the ambulance transporting code 3 using lights and sirens.

Before the water rescue concluded, two additional medical emergencies were dispatched. One patient was transported by Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District under mutual aid, while Lebanon Fire District crews responded to a serious injury motor vehicle crash.

Approximately 2½ hours after the initial water rescue call, the incident concluded with the best possible outcome when the missing woman was located safe at a friend's residence.

Lebanon Fire District would like to thank our mutual aid partners, the Albany Fire Department and Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District, for providing ambulance coverage during this exceptionally busy period. We also extend our appreciation to the Linn County Sheriff's Office for providing personnel, a rescue watercraft, and drone resources that were instrumental in the search effort.

As river recreation continues throughout the summer, Lebanon Fire District reminds everyone to develop a clear plan before entering the river. Always know where you will enter and exit, communicate those plans with family or friends, and notify others immediately if those plans change. Most importantly, wear a properly fitted life jacket whenever you are on the water.

To help keep river users safe, Lebanon Fire District provides three life jacket loaner stations- two located at Waterloo Park and one at Gill's Landing- where visitors can borrow life jackets at no cost before heading onto the river. Photo credit goes to Corbin Henderson. 

Lebanon Fire Responds To Second Fire In Three Days Along South Santiam River (Photo) (Photo) - 07/15/26

At approximately 7:25 pm, on July 14^th, 2026, Lebanon Fire District was dispatched to the second fire in three days in the area of Brewster Road and E. Grant Street. The fire was initially dispatched as a smoke investigation and elevated to a first alarm fire once the Battalion Chief arrived.

Smoke was found in the area, but the location of the fire was unknown. Crews set off on foot and a drone was utilized to locate the fire. GPS coordinates from the drone were given to crews to guide them to the location.

Once firefighters arrived, they reported a 1.4 acre slow moving flame front one quarter mile from the road, and 600 feet from the closest water source. Firefighters attacked the fire with hand tools since fire vehicles were unable to access the fire due to the terrain and heavy brush. A portable pump and approximately 1600 feet of hose were carried in to extinguish hot spots and create a wet line perimeter.

Fire crews contacted the City of Lebanon to assist, who provided a bulldozer to create a containment line around the perimeter of the fire. At approximately 11:00 pm, the Incident Commander determined it was unsafe to continue mop-up due to limited visibility and falling trees. A brush company was assigned overnight to ensure containment lines held.

At 8:00 am on July 15^th, 2026, a task force of firefighters deployed back to the fire for continued mop-up and to pick up equipment. Mop-up is expected to be completed this afternoon.

No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

While Lebanon Fire District was fighting the fire, two other calls occurred. Firefighters were reassigned from the fire to respond in an ambulance.

Ten fire apparatus with 21 firefighters responded to the fire, along with four command staff and a bulldozer. Events like this require significant manpower to stop the fire spread.

Lebanon Fire District would like to thank the City of Lebanon, the Linn County Sheriff's Office, and the Albany Fire Department for their assistance during the incident.

Wildland fire risk is highest this time of year. Open flame in wildland areas can cause fires to quickly spread in these weather conditions. We urge the community to prepare for these events by ensuring you have a proper evacuation plan in place, adequate defensible space, and your home is properly hardened. Visit www.wildfirereadylinnco.org to request a free defensible space assessment of your home and property.

Lebanon Fire District Responds To 1.2-Acre Brush Fire Along South Santiam River (Photo) - 07/12/26

July 12, 2026 – At approximately 5:04 p.m. today, Lebanon Fire District firefighters were dispatched to the area of Brewster Road and E. Grant Street for a reported brush fire.

The first-arriving Battalion Chief found smoke coming from trees approximately 75 feet in from the river. A drone was immediately deployed to provide an aerial view of the fire, allowing crews to quickly assess its size and develop an effective attack plan.

As conditions indicated the fire had the potential to grow, the incident was upgraded to a First Alarm, bringing in two off-duty firefighters and six volunteer firefighters to assist with suppression efforts. 

The fire ultimately burned approximately 1.2 acres. Firefighters remained on scene for more than two and a half hours extinguishing hot spots and completing extensive mop-up operations to ensure the fire would not rekindle.

Crews utilized a portable water pump to draft water directly from the river, providing a continuous water supply in the remote area. The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) responded with a dozer and constructed a containment line around the fire to help prevent further spread.

One firefighter was stung by a bee. No other injuries were reported.

While crews were actively fighting the fire, both Lebanon Fire District medic units had to be reassigned to respond to three separate medical emergencies, including a cardiac arrest. During that time, the district was assisted by the Albany Fire Department, which provided engine coverage to ensure emergency response capabilities remained available throughout the community.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Lebanon Fire District would like to thank the Oregon Department of Forestry, the Linn County Sheriff's Office, and the Albany Fire Department for their assistance during today's incident.

With the current hot, dry, and windy weather conditions, Lebanon Fire District reminds everyone to use extreme caution with any activity that could spark a fire. Even a small spark from equipment, vehicles, discarded smoking materials, or recreational activities can quickly become a fast-moving wildfire. Help protect our community by following burn restrictions, avoiding activities that create sparks in dry vegetation, and reporting any signs of smoke or fire immediately by calling 911.