A fire earlier this afternoon briefly closed the Howard Buford Recreation Area southeast of Eugene. The fire is now fully contained. The north side of the area will remain closed as crews monitor and investigate the blaze. Mount Pisgah and the arboretum are open to visitors.
The Oregon Department of Forestry responded with a helicopter to dump water on the blaze. It burned a little more than an acre.
ODF crews are performing mop-up operations. The area will be monitored throughout the weekend by Lane County Parks staff and volunteers.
Lane County Parks Manager Mike Russell said their fire crews as well as the state responded quickly and helped keep the fire from spreading. He says the helicopter was a big help in tamping down the flames.