CLACKAMAS COUNTY, Ore. — A burn ban is in effect in Clackamas County after a number of brush fires broke out Monday and Tuesday. The dry, windy weather we're having means even more fire danger.
A three-acre brush fire started Tuesday afternoon in rural Clackamas County. Crews protected a structure and are working to extinguish the fire, but the high wind is making the job difficult, the Clackamas Fire Department posted on Instagram.
Several fires started all over the area on Monday, from Cornelius, to Canby, to Aurora, and Estacada. They were all fueled by wind and dry brush.
"Wind-driven fire behavior is a huge problem," said Lt. Matt Laas with Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue.
While Washington County was not under a burn ban, fire crews continued to keep careful watch.
While the ground may still be damp, many plants are a bit drier, which means one stray spark could mean danger.
"Embers are going to be flying around and any kind of combustible material will be dry enough to ignite," Laas said.
Fire season is still months away with spring officially starting on Wednesday. Firefighters say the fire season, which usually starts in May or June, seems to start earlier and earlier every year.
"We have to be prepared and proactive to get ahead of this threat," said Oregon Gov. Kate Brown.
Brown formed the Council on Wildfire Response to help the state be more prepared to handle devastating fires.
"Every single fire season since I became governor has been a historic fire season," Brown said.
"Fire season after fire season after fire season just keeps getting worse, not just here in Oregon but all across the west," said Matt Donegan, who is a part of the council.
State officials say the deadly and terrifying California wildfires last summer could happen here.
"If 2017 and 2018 were any indicators, our potential here in Oregon is not that far behind California's," Oregon State Fire Marshal Jim Walker said.
Walker went through the numbers related to recent fires. He said in the 2017 Chetco Bar Fire, 191,125 acres burned. That fire affected the community of Brookings.
The 2017 Eagle Creek Fire that ignited in the Columbia River Gorge burned about 50,000 acres, trapped 153 hikers, caused an evacuation of Cascade Locks, forced the release of about 600,000 fish, and threatened the historic Multnomah Falls Lodge.
Those are just a couple examples of recent fires that did a lot of damage.
Walker said between 2017-2018, the cost of fighting fires came to $31.2 million for the Oregon Fire Marshal’s Office.
"Now is the time to collectively come together and address this critical issue before the devastation and destruction our forests and communities becomes the new norm," Walker said.
But Laas said there are ways to protect yourself and your family.
One, use common sense. If it's windy out, don’t burn anything.
Two, think about putting 100 feet of defensible space around your home. That means not putting anything combustible near your house.