Farm equipment started Sodaville Cutoff Fire near Lebanon that prompted evacuation order
This story was updated at 9:10 a.m. Wednesday
Farm equipment working in a partially harvested grass field south of Lebanon ignited the Sodaville Cutoff Fire on Tuesday, prompting a evacuation order due to the fire's rapid movement and proximity to numerous homes, the Lebanon Fire District said Wednesday.
Lebanon firefighters were dispatched at about 1:40 p.m. Tuesday and began protecting structures near the fire on Sodaville Cutoff Road between Hazen and Middle Ridge roads, the fire district said. Crews already working on a fire off Shelburn Drive northeast of Hess Road in Scio were released to help in protecting homes at the Sodaville Cutoff Fire.
The Oregon Department of Forestry said progress of the fire was stopped at 39 acres with a quick initial attack with multiple resources, including seven engines, a tender, dozer, air attack aircraft and helicopter.
The Linn County Sheriff's Office lifted its evacuation order at 2:49 p.m. Lebanon Fire said crews continued mop-up for another four hours.
"The fire was determined to be caused by farm equipment harvesting the field," the fire district said in news release Wednesday.
“Because of how close this fire was to homes and the fire activity we were seeing, we provided a strong initial attack,” said Chris Cline, forester at the South Cascade District Office in Springfield. “We provided a unified command with the Lebanon Fire District to contain this fire quickly to protect public safety and forest resources. This is another great example of the public partnerships we have in place to protect all Oregonians.”
"Ensure that your homes are protected and there is appropriate defensible space around your property in the case of fire," Lebanon Fire said.
Brownsville, Tangent and Sweet Home fire departments also assisted, and the Albany Fire Department provided city coverage for Lebanon during the fire. A property owner assisted crews by cutting a dozer line on the east side of the fire, Lebanon Fire said.
Residents of Linn and Benton counties can sign up for Linn-Benton ALERT to receive emergency notifications of any evacuations. To sign up, visit member.everbridge.net/index/453003085613276#/signup
The Linn County Sheriff's Office activated the Emergency Operations Center to monitor the fires and keep nearby residents updated. The Sheriff's Office also posted regular updates on its Facebook page.
Abigail Landwehr is an outdoors journalism intern for the Statesman Journal. She can be reached at alandwehr@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Farm equipment started Sodaville Cutoff Fire near Lebanon evacuation
