For Immediate Release Contact: Ashley Lara 541-831-2778
Date: June 30, 2015
Target Shooting Sparks Fire on Kershaw Road
At 4:45p.m. dispatch received a report of smoke at the White City Shooting Range on Kershaw Road. Jackson County Fire District 3, the Oregon Department of Forestry and Jackson County Sheriff’s Department arrived on scene to find a .10 acre fire moving up slope with high winds.
This is the fourth fire that has been reported in the area in the last month. The most recent being just a day before the Kershaw Road Fire started. Resources including, 5 Jackson County Fire District 3 engines, 1-20 person Jackson County Community Justice Crew, 7 Oregon Department of Forestry engines, 2-10 person handcrews, 1 tender, 1 dozer and a Type 1 and Type 2 helicopter. Crew moved quickly to form a wet line (a temporary control line using water to prevent fire from spreading) around the perimeter. The helicopters dipped out of a nearby pond, rotating bucked drops on the hot spots.
Within two hours, the fire was 100% contained with dozer line around the perimeter. Crews worked overnight to mop-up the area. Jesse Blair, Fire Investigator for the Oregon Department of Forestry stated, “The fire has been deemed shooting related, and it moved quickly due to high temperatures and low humidity”. Though this fire was not started due to tracer ammunition, it is also important to state that according to ORS. 477.510 and ORS 477.512, the discharge of tracer ammunition on land that is within the district or within one-eighth mile of the district, or when discharged, crosses above land that is within the district or within one-eighth mile of the district are prohibited during fire season.
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Ashley Lara
Fire & Life Safety Specialist
Jackson County Fire District 3
8383 Agate Rd
White City, OR 97503
(541) 831-2778