Thursday May, 7th was a busy day for firefighters. Around noon a report of fire in Cedar Valley north of Gold Beach started the day. Winds spread a vehicle fire into a unit of three-year-old trees killing two acres of fir reproduction. Coos Forest Protective Association (CFPA), Cedar Valley Rural Fire Department, Ophir Rural Fire Department and Curry County Sheriff’s office all helped extinguish the fire. While the Cedar Valley Fire was going, Bandon Rural Fire Department controlled a brush fire in Bandon’s city limits. Then, late in the night, Port Orford Fire Department controlled a brush fire near Garrison Lake. The fire investigations are not completed but early indications are two of the fires were related to debris burning. One may have been spread by the wind and the other may have been a burn thought to be out that was rekindled by the wind and unattended. “I can’t stress enough how important it is for people to stay with their burns until out. That means the burn must be fully extinguished before you leave it. Also be ready for afternoon winds.” said Derwin Boggs, Gold Beach Unit Forester for CFPA. “It is dryer than many people think. A structure fire last Friday in the Millington area produced embers that started several small fires, including one on the roof of a house 200 yards away.” CFPA reports they have been called to a number of unattended burns that could have caused fires. CFPA appreciates the public alerting them to these unattended burns. “Burning can still be done safely if you are wise about doing it. You have to check if your area allows burning, clear the area above and around your burn, have tools and water at the ready, and stay in attendance until the burn is completely out.” said John Flannigan, Prevention Specialist for CFPA. “If you don’t follow the basic precautions and your burn escapes, you may be liable for the damage the fire causes and the cost of extinguishing it. Firefighting can be expensive and we don’t like to have to bill people, but the law requires it. The law is to protect the general public from having to pay for someone else’s negligence.”
