Fire destroys Culver-area home, vehicle; Jefferson County, other crews tackle three brush fires, possibly sparked by train

(Update: CO fire managers say three fires stopped small)

CULVER, Ore. (KTVZ) – Jefferson County firefighters, joined by several other departments from around the region, rushed to stop and put out a string of three brush fires in the Culver area Monday afternoon that may have been sparked by a passing train amid very hot, dry conditions.

The busy afternoon began with what might have been an unrelated incident, as Jefferson County Fire & EMS crews were called around 12:45 p.m. Monday to a fire around that destroyed a home and vehicle and also spread to a field east of Highway 97 near Jericho Lane in the Culver area.  There were unconfirmed reports of two injuries.

Jefferson County Fire Deputy Chief of Operations Kasey Skaar said the fire destroyed the structure and vehicle and got into a dry field, prompting a call-up of crews from the BLM and the Redmond, Crooked River Ranch fire departments, as well as Warm Springs Fire and Safety, either on the fires or to help cover district calls.

At least three more brush fires were reported in the area near train tracks over the next half-hour or so, including two north and south of Juniper Butte. All were reportedly being stopped at a fairly small size of an acre or two, while the train involved reportedly was stopped south of Culver.

Central Oregon Fire Management Service said its resources responded to three incidents in mutual aid support with Jefferson County. "Forward progress has been stopped on the three incidents," which they said "range from an estimated .10 of an acre to 2.5 acres."

Due to the hot temperatures and increasingly dry conditions, officials raised the fire danger level to extreme for public lands across Central Oregon.