Three Culver-area fires keep crews on the run

Three fires in the Culver area kept Jefferson County Fire District No.1 crews busy on Sunday, two that threatened homes and other structures and a third that destroyed a barn full of hay, causing $710,000 in losses, officials said.

The first fire was reported shortly before 11 a.m., burning in juniper and grass on Southwest Rocky Lane in the Round Butte subdivision, said Assistant Fire Chief Tom Jaca.

That fire burned about an acre and threatened three structures. More than a dozen firefighters were called on for about 2 hours, Jaca said, adding that the cause of the fire was under investigation.

Around 4:15 p.m., a hay barn fire was reported at 1720 Southwest Jericho Lane, and Jaca said it destroyed the barn and 300 tons of first crop alfalfa hay. More than a dozen firefighters and four engines were called to the scene.

That fire’s cause was determined to be spontaneous combustion, Jaca said.

While crews were on the hay barn fire, around 5:45 p.m., another fire was reported in the Round Butte area, Jaca said. Due to limited availability of resources, mutual aid was requested from the Crooked River Ranch and Redmond fire departments, as well as the BLM and Oregon Department of Forestry.

A total of 17 firefighters and seven engines responded and were able to stop that fire at about four acres, with crews on scene for five hours. A number of homes were threatened, but none were lost to the blaze, the cause of which was under investigation.