Grass fire off Eagle Mill Road north of Ashland held to about a half acre
By Morgan Rothborne, Ashland.news
After it burned about a half an acre, firefighters declared a fire on the 1200 block of Eagle Mill Road mostly knocked down at about 3 p.m. Monday, according to the Watch Duty app.
The fire was reported at 2:47 p.m., according to Watch Duty. A Jackson County Alerts message at 3:05 p.m. reported the grass fire was no threat to the city, but asked residents of the Oak Street and Eagle Mill Road neighborhoods to avoid the area until an all-clear is given — a notification that came at 4:06 p.m.
Standing next to one of the five engines that responded to the fire, Wildfire Division Chief Chris Chambers said this was “a run-of-the-mill grass fire” just two days after the official start of fire season. Chambers remembered a recent fire season with an early 8-acre fire in Ashland that proved to be the largest for that year.
It was a reminder that the public should be prepared when working outside nearby fuels such as dry grass. Firefighting tools and water should be on hand when work needs to be done and work that could start fires should be avoided during the heat of the day.
Monday’s fire near 1256 Eagle Mill Road was extinguished by a water tender, two Type 1 engines and three Type 6 brush rigs, plus the tractor and hose of the nearest homeowner, Chambers said.
Luckily the wind pushed the fire away from the home and toward the city’s Hardesty property where Oak Street extends over Bear Creek, he said. Firefighters were able to use a nearby road on a hill to gain access and stop the fire at around an acre from his own visual assessment.
While the area is just outside city limits, Ashland Fire & Rescue were the first on scene and knocked down the fire with the assistance of Fire District 5, which arrived with a water tender and one Type 6 brush rig.
Email Ashland.news reporter Morgan Rothborne at [email protected].
4:13 p.m.: Updated with time of the all-clear notification.
