Potential forest fire nipped in the bud

DAYTON–Damage in timber by a fire of as yet undetermined origin was limited thanks to a citizen's sharp eye and prompt response by local fire departments Monday.

At about 10:50 a.m., Columbia County Dispatch received a call from a citizen who reported seeing smoke in the tree line south of Dayton. Fire District No. 3 units were dispatched and Chief Jeromy Phinney reached the area, where indeed a fire was getting underway.

The fire was burning in some grass and brush, and was just moving into an area of timber, Phinney observed, estimating the size at about five acres. It was just south of the intersection of Whiskey Creek and Payne Hollow roads.

"When I first got there, I could barely see smoke," Phinney said. "Fifteen minutes later, I was thinking that we may not be able to catch this. It was fortunate that they called when they called.

"We were able to get some hose lines around the fire quickly," he said, adding that mutual aid calls were answered by Walla Walla District No. 8 and Joint Fire District No. 2. Phinney requested additional engines, tenders and bulldozers at one point.

"We were able to knock it down within the first couple of hours," Phinney said. "Had it been an hour later in the day, or had there been a little wind, it would've been a different story."

The fire location was in Walla Walla County in an area that is the Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) responsibility, he said.

DNR is investigating the fire's cause and took control of the incident at about 2 p.m.