Saturday afternoon, Lebanon Fire District was dispatched to a reported mobile home fire. With the dry weather and high fire danger, there was significant risk that this fire would spread to the nearby vegetation.
Due to the rural location and lack of fire hydrants in the area, Battalion Chief 31 requested two additional water tenders to assist with water supply operations.
Upon arrival, BC31 found a fully involved double-wide mobile home with wind-driven fire rapidly spreading uphill through heavy brush toward another structure approximately 500 feet away.
Lebanon Fire District, Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), and mutual-aid fire crews immediately began a direct attack on the fire using engines and brush vehicles. At the same time, additional personnel, including the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, began evacuating the 18 residents from homes at the end of Hilltop Drive.
As the fire continued to spread, a second and then third alarm was requested to bring additional firefighters, apparatus, and water resources to the incident.
Firefighters faced several significant challenges, including narrow dirt roads, steep terrain, extreme heat, and thick blackberry bushes and brush that made access and movement difficult. Firefighters initially responded in structural firefighting gear for the mobile home fire but with the rapidly spreading vegetation fire, they had no time to change into wildland attire until after the fire was knocked down.
Approximately 20 minutes after BC31 arrived on scene, firefighters were able to stop the forward progress, preventing it from reaching the threatened structure. Crews continued to battle flare-ups and cool hot spots throughout the afternoon.
ODF responded with a dozer, which established a fire line around the entire fire, helping crews secure the perimeter.
Evacuations remained in place while firefighters worked to eliminate remaining threats. Three hours later, evacuations were lifted after crews determined the immediate threat had been controlled.
Firefighters remained on scene completing overhaul and mop-up operations.
The only structure lost in the incident was the original mobile home. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Source: Lebanon Fire Department