Burning car sparks late-season wildfire SE of Oakridge

A burning car ignited trees and brush Saturday afternoon, starting a 24-acre wildfire in the woods above Hills Creek Reservoir southeast of Oakridge, Willamette Natonal Forest officials said Sunday.

The Bald Butte Fire broke out above Forest Service Road 23 on the 560 spur Saturday afternoon, about four miles southeast of Oakridge, said forest Public Affairs Officer Jude McHugh.

Dry fuels and gusty winds left 24 acres of burnt timber and brush, all of it on national forest lands, she said.

Crews from the Oregon Department of Forestry and the Middle Fork Ranger District responded to contain the fire before it reached adjacent privately owned lands.

The response to the fire was swift, and with Sunday’s cooler and more humid weather. crews anticipate a successful completion to this late-season event, McHugh said.

“With our crews and our partners, we just slipped right back into gear and worked hard to get a line around this fire yesterday,” said Middle Fork Ranger District Fire Management Officer Randy Green.

“The gusty winds meant the fire took a few good runs, but we anticipate we will continue to work the hot spots today,” Green added.

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