First big wildfire of season contained NW of Madras

A 638-acre wildfire about 20 miles northwest of Madras was fully contained on Tuesday. It all started Sunday evening when a campfire escaped and quickly grew into a large-scale fire.

Several crews were dispatched Sunday night, including firefighters from the Bureau of Land Management, and Warm Springs Hot Shots and smoke jumpers.

“We were able to get people all around it and make sure it didn’t escape,” Jonathan Lent, an engine captain for Prineville BLM, said Tuesday.

No structures were at risk, although Lent said there are several ranches not too far from the blaze.

Officials said strong winds and steep terrain made for an explosive combination. Many said they were surprised to see a wildfire of this scale this early in the season.

“It’s been getting earlier every year,” said Darren Kasper, another engine captain with the Prineville BLM. “It seems like it’s earlier this year than it has the last couple of years.”

Another reason for the fire’s quick spread was the dry grass and sagebrush in the area. Lent said that thanks to an unusually wet May, the grass has been able to grow faster and higher.

“It just makes the grass grow really fast, and then when it gets really hot afterwards, it can make for dangerous conditions,” Lent said.

On Tuesday, crews were out checking for hot spots.

“We are spraying some water on hot spots,” Kasper said. “Then we grub it up with some tools, and then once we can see it’s nice and cool and wet, we go barehanded, touch it, make sure it’s not hot.”

Crews will be patrolling the fire for the next few days to make sure no more hot spots can flare up.

Officials want to remind everyone to make sure to put campfires out correctly, even as early as May.