Coos Forest Protective Association the official website

WILDFIRES HIT SIMULTANEOUSLY

Two fires that started within minutes of one another, only 30 miles apart, are no longer a threat to homes or natural resources.

Firefighters from Coos Forest Protective Association got the first call shortly before 5:30 p.m. Monday of a small fire burning two miles northeast of Port Orford up the Sixes River. Just minutes later, reports of a fast moving gorse fire off Whiskey Run in the Seven Devils area came in. Bandon Rural Fire Department and CFPA responded with equipment and personnel.

Firefighters were aided by seven engines, two bulldozers and a fire suppression helicopter on the Grassy Knob Fire near Port Orford that burned about 1/2 (one-half) acre of slash (logging debris) and felled and bucked timber.

The second fire, located off Whiskey Run, burned about 110 acres of gorse and threatened about 50 homes near Brown Lane, Clifford Road, Uro Drive and Jackie Road before fire crews stopped it’s spread. No evacuations were ordered and no homes were damaged. Other resources on the fire included three engines, two bulldozers, three helicopters and one reconnaissance aircraft.

The cause of both fires is unknown and under investigation. Fire crews will spend much of today mopping up hot spots to keep the fires from flaring up in the next few days.