42-acre fire near Scappoose underscores dry conditions
The Oregon Department of Forestry said Wednesday that firefighters have finished control lines around 100 percent of the Chapman Grange Road No. 1 Fire, which broke out seven miles northwest of Scappoose. No more growth is expected on the fire, which has been mapped at 42 acres.
The fire’s size and aggressive behavior for this time of year in a part of the state that’s usually the last to dry out has fire officials taking note. Across much of northwest Oregon, rainfall has been only a fraction of normal for May and early June, leading to fuel moisture levels that are at or near historic lows for this date. And forecasted rain this weekend may not do much to alleviate the long-term fire picture.
Malcolm Hiatt is the unit forester for ODF’s Columbia City office in Columbia County northwest of Portland. He said that during the fire’s first 24 hours, it spotted 30 to 50 feet in all directions ahead of the flames.
“It pushed across 12-foot wide gravel roads to reach more than 100 feet into timber before slowing down and burning in 5-to 6-foot high green Douglas-fir trees. Those young trees and the green underbrush burned amazingly well for this time of year, Hiatt said.
Hiatt said that along streams the fire behaved normally for what fire managers expect in June, but in all other fuel types the fire acted like it was the second week of August.
“Stumps in the timber within 50 feet of the control lines were starting to catch fire from embers. Once heated, fire spread to the surrounding vegetation even at 1 a.m.,” he said.
Firefighters were able to get control lines around 100 percent of the fire. Hiatt said firefighters hope to have 50 feet mopped in on all sides by the end of shift Tuesday. Mop up will continue for the rest of the week with a reduction in resources starting with Wednesday’s day shift.
The fire was first reported on Sunday by a Life Flight helicopter taking a patient to Portland. Scappoose Rural Fire District began the initial attack, later transferring the fire to ODF. Vernonia Rural Fire Department assisted by supplying and operating a water tender. Industrial operators have also supplied a water tender and an excavator to break apart smoldering piles of wood so all parts could be cooled and extinguished.
There have been no injuries or accidents and no structures were threatened by the fire. But the fire’s quick spread highlights for Hiatt just how low moisture levels in vegetation have become in the heavily timbered areas from the coast to Portland.
“We are seeing large parts of northwest Oregon that haven’t received significant rain in a month and a half or longer. That has left trees, brush and grass as dry as it might be in mid-summer,” Hiatt warned.
He advises homeowners and those who work or recreate in forestlands to be especially careful and if possible avoid activities that could spark a wildfire, such as burning debris or building campfires.
“Most Oregonians don’t worry much about wildfire until well into summer, but in the northwest part of the state, the risk is already there,” Hiatt said.
