CULVER, OR -- Jefferson County Fire & EMS responded to five fires in a short amount of time Monday afternoon. The string of incidents started with a house fire on Irving Lane, in Culver. With flames spreading from the building to nearby brush and trees, crews on scene requested BLM resources to help.
While working the Irving Lane fire, crews noticed a smoke column near Culver Highway and Ford Lane. As additional firefighters responded to that scene, another smoke column was spotted on the north side of Juniper Butte, just south of their location. While on-scene, those crews then noticed another smoke column nearby. That brush fire was found near Green Drive and Monroe Lane. All three brush fires were contained at between .5 and 2.5 acres, according to the Central Oregon Fire Management Service (COFMS).
As wildland and structural crews worked the brush fires, firefighters were dispatched to a house fire in Madras, on Madison Street.
Investigators believe all three brush fires were caused by a passing train. All were found directly against the railroad tracks. The causes of the two structure fires have not been determined and the estimated losses are being calculated.
Additional resources were provided by numerous agencies, including Warm Springs Fire & Safety, Redmond and Crooked River Ranch Fire and Rescue, Cloverdale Fire, Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire, Bend Fire and Pacific Power.
photo courtesy of Crooked River Ranch Fire & Rescue
