Corvallis Fire Responds to Two Major Incidents On July 4

July 5, 2023 - On the first Red Flag Warning Day of 2023, the Corvallis Fire Department (CFD) responded to two major fires that occurred simultaneously in the mid-valley area as most people were enjoying their July 4 holiday.

Grass Fire at Colorado Lake Drive in Linn County

The first incident began just after 4 p.m. July 4, with a report of a grass fire near Colorado Lake Drive in Linn County. This area is within the Corvallis Rural Fire Protection District and receives fire protection from the Corvallis Fire Department.

Crews arrived and found a fire spreading rapidly through a grass field near Colorado Lake Drive. Due to the wind, extreme temperature, and very low humidity, the fire continued to spot ahead of the main fire, which made it very difficult to stop. Winds were pushing the fire directly toward a nearby subdivision on Pheasant Drive.

Fire response units from all Benton County agencies were dispatched initially. Upon arrival, the CFD incident commander called for additional resources from Linn and Polk Counties. When the fire began threatening the nearby subdivision, CFD requested assistance from the Office of the Oregon State Fire Marshal  for an air resource and four Type 1 structure engines.

These additional resources were en route when the crews at the fire were able to stop the fire’s advance toward the subdivision, ultimately extinguishing the southern end of the fire within a few feet of the homes on Pheasant Drive. The resources requested from the State Fire Marshal’s Office were canceled. The fire was brought under control by 8 p.m. with approximately 75 acres burned.

Structure Fire on Conser Place in Northeast Corvallis

Just after 6 p.m., while crews were still working the grass fire in Linn County, CFD was dispatched for a report of a structure fire at a home on Conser Place in northeast Corvallis.

By this point in the day, Corvallis firefighters had already been fighting a wildland fire for several hours in the hottest part of the day. CFD had one fire engine and one ambulance available to respond to the structure fire initially, along with an additional ambulance provided by the Albany Fire Department through mutual aid. These units arrived at the structure fire on Conser and began their emergency response, but they quickly realized the fire required more resources.

As a result, five crews and their vehicles were sent directly from the grass fire to the structure fire. In some cases, the fire crews were changing out of their wildland firefighting gear and donning structural turnouts and equipment while en route to the scene.

When the additional crews arrived, one home was fully involved, and the fire had spread to the attic of an adjacent home. Crews were able to stop the fire at the two residences, and no residents were injured.

A Busy Day in Corvallis

These two fires required the full firefighting resources of not just Corvallis Fire, but also nearby agencies in a three-county area. This illustrates the significant fire danger posed by extreme heat and dry weather on these Red Flag Days, and the lack of firefighting resources locally to address a large scale event or simultaneous events like these.

“We were able to bring both incidents under control thanks to the incredible work by CFD crews, all of our mutual aid partners, and the off-duty Corvallis firefighters who were called back in to assist,” said Corvallis Fire Chief Ben Janes. “If it not for the exceptional work by our staff and the assistance from agencies in Linn, Benton and Polk counties, we would have lost many more structures.”

The grass fire appears to be caused by operation of heavy agricultural equipment. The cause of the structure fire on Conser Place is under investigation.