Discarded cigarette burns half acre along Crater Lake Parkway
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Fire crews work to quickly extinguish a grass fire along the Crater Lake Parkway in Klamath Falls on Tuesday. An investigation into the fire determined it was caused by a discarded cigarette. (Image: Garrett Steensland)
A pine tree torches in a wind driven fire along Crater Lake Parkway on Tuesday (Image: KCSD1)
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - Fire crews from several agencies responded to two fast-moving brush fires on Tuesday in Klamath Falls.
The first fire came in at approximately 2:20 PM at the 3800 block of Collier Lane in the Pine Grove area east of Klamath Falls. The first arriving engine reported a fast-moving, wind-driven fire in grasses and light brush. The fire was contained to less than two acres.
No structures were damaged. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Fire crews were dispatched to a second fire at approximately 6:30 PM. This would be for a grass fire along Crater Lake Parkway. Upon arrival, crews found a wind-driven grass fire with multiple trees burning. The fast actions of the crews held the fire to less than one-half acre. The cause of the fire was found to be a discarded cigarette in the dry brush.
The discarding of burning materials is illegal and could cause catastrophic damage.
The Crater Lake Parkway was closed for a brief time as fire crews attacked the flames.
The Oregon Department of Forestry raised the fire danger level from Moderate to High today with the hot and dry conditions experienced locally. Future forecasts indicate even higher temperatures.
A firefighter uses water supplied from a wildland truck to extinguish hot spots alongside the Crater Lake Parkway (Image: KCFD1)
During fire season, open burning is not allowed.
Responding agencies included Klamath County Fire District #1, Kingsley Field Fire Department, Klamath County Fire District #4, Oregon Department of Forestry, Bureau of Land Management, and local law enforcement.
A semi truck turns around on the CLP. During the fire parkway was closed to through traffic between Portland Street and Campus Drive. (Image: Garrett Steensland)