A mid-March blaze that forced evacuations in Oregon is a reminder that the most active part of wildfire season is still to come.
The Santiam Park Fire near Lyons, Oregon temporarily displaced dozens of people. Firefighters got the blaze under control and no lives or buildings were lost.
While rain and cooler weather have returned to western Oregon, the early season flare-up served as a warning of what’s to come. Fire officials say there’s still time to help defend your house against flames.
Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said now is the time for homeowners to trim back the vegetation around structures on their property. “We like to do that earlier on in the year, so that when it comes to more of an active fire season, they’re not using the tools and equipment that might actually start a fire,” she said.
Ruiz-Temple says sparks from power tools such as chainsaws and lawnmowers are a common cause of grass fires. She says even just cleaning your gutters of pine needles and leaves can help prevent fire from spreading.
The Santiam Park Fire was one of more than three dozen early season blazes in Oregon and Washington so far this year. Though none have caused extensive damage, Ruiz-Temple said there's a reason why wildfires can spring up at this time of year. "We're not in green-up yet, so a lot of the dead, dry fuels can easily be sparked under the right conditions and the right type of winds," she said.
