Vehicle Operated In Dry Grass Sparks Rapidly Spreading Wildfire (Photo)
- 08/26/25
Yesterday afternoon just after 4pm Sweet Home Fire and ODF South Cascade were dispatched to a large natural cover fire on Rice Road in the Holley area just West of Sweet Home. The fire was rapidly spreading and reported to be moving toward homes. The Incident Commander immediately requested a second alarm assignment, and once on scene he upgraded it again requesting a third alarm assignment. The 2nd and 3rd alarm upgrades brought firefighters and apparatus from Brownsville, Halsey, and Lebanon Fire. Also assisting with move ups to cover those agencies, were crews from Scio and Albany. Pacific Power responded to the scene and de-energized all power lines in the area. A type 1 helicopter was requested and responded providing direct air attack. A dozer was brought in as part of the ODF response, and was utilized for fireline construction. The Linn County Sherrif’s Office with assistance from Sweet Home Police, conducted evacuations.
The fire burned 25 acres, destroying one RV, damaging the siding on a pumphouse, and causing minor heat damage to multiple structures. There were no casualties or injuries reported. The cause of the fire was determined to be a pickup truck being operated in tall dry grass. The fire started underneath that pickup truck, which was able to escape the area undamaged. It then spread to the nearby RV and into both standing and cut grass fields as well as brush and heavy timber. Level 3 evacuations were ordered for the area of Rice Road and Crescent Hill Road, however those orders were quickly lowered to level 1 evacuations as crews stopped the forward progress of the fire by 5:24 pm.
As of this morning, the level 1 evacuations remain in place while crews continue to mop up the fire. For updated on evacuations, please follow or contact the Linn County Sherrif’s Office. The fire is currently 60% contained and crews expect full containment by the end of the day. Once full containment is achieved, all evacuation orders will be lifted. ODF South Cascade and Sweet Home Fire are being assisted today with mop up operations by Scio Fire and Albany Fire.
ODF South Cascade provided 6 engines, 1 water tender, 1 dozer and 4 overhead team members with a total of 18 personnel. Structural fire apparatus on scene included 9 engines, 7 water tenders, and 5 overhead team members, with a total of 40 personnel.
*photo credit to Corbin Henderson, Lebanon Fire Photographer
Attached Media Files:
884A5576.JPEG,
884A5527.JPEG,
884A5533.JPEG,
884A5552.JPEG,
884A5574.JPEG,
884A5539.JPEG,
IMG_2183.jpeg,
image000000 (1).jpeg,
image000000.jpeg,
IMG_7531.jpg,
IMG_7529.jpg,
IMG_7530.jpg,
IMG_7528.jpg,
884A5631.JPEG,
IMG_2186.jpg,
Vehicle Operated In Dry Grass Sparks Rapidly Spreading Wildfire (Photo)
- 08/26/25
Yesterday afternoon just after 4pm Sweet Home Fire and ODF South Cascade were dispatched to a large natural cover fire on Rice Road in the Holley area just West of Sweet Home. The fire was rapidly spreading and reported to be moving toward homes. The Incident Commander immediately requested a second alarm assignment, and once on scene he upgraded it again requesting a third alarm assignment. The 2nd and 3rd alarm upgrades brought firefighters and apparatus from Brownsville, Halsey, and Lebanon Fire. Also assisting with move ups to cover those agencies, were crews from Scio and Albany. Pacific Power responded to the scene and de-energized all power lines in the area. A type 1 helicopter was requested and responded providing direct air attack. A dozer was brought in as part of the ODF response, and was utilized for fireline construction. The Linn County Sherrif’s Office with assistance from Sweet Home Police, conducted evacuations.
The fire burned 25 acres, destroying one RV, damaging the siding on a pumphouse, and causing minor heat damage to multiple structures. There were no casualties or injuries reported. The cause of the fire was determined to be a pickup truck being operated in tall dry grass. The fire started underneath that pickup truck, which was able to escape the area undamaged. It then spread to the nearby RV and into both standing and cut grass fields as well as brush and heavy timber. Level 3 evacuations were ordered for the area of Rice Road and Crescent Hill Road, however those orders were quickly lowered to level 1 evacuations as crews stopped the forward progress of the fire by 5:24 pm.
As of this morning, the level 1 evacuations remain in place while crews continue to mop up the fire. For updated on evacuations, please follow or contact the Linn County Sherrif’s Office. The fire is currently 60% contained and crews expect full containment by the end of the day. Once full containment is achieved, all evacuation orders will be lifted. ODF South Cascade and Sweet Home Fire are being assisted today with mop up operations by Scio Fire and Albany Fire.
ODF South Cascade provided 6 engines, 1 water tender, 1 dozer and 4 overhead team members with a total of 18 personnel. Structural fire apparatus on scene included 9 engines, 7 water tenders, and 5 overhead team members, with a total of 40 personnel.
*photo credit to Corbin Henderson, Lebanon Fire Photographer
Attached Media Files:
884A5576.JPEG,
884A5527.JPEG,
884A5533.JPEG,
884A5552.JPEG,
884A5574.JPEG,
884A5539.JPEG,
IMG_2183.jpeg,
image000000 (1).jpeg,
image000000.jpeg,
IMG_7531.jpg,
IMG_7529.jpg,
IMG_7530.jpg,
IMG_7528.jpg,
884A5631.JPEG,
IMG_2186.jpg,