An outbuilding at a Gales Creek home on Soda Springs Road near Old Wilson River Road ignited in flames Saturday afternoon after a burn pile escaped, Forest Grove Fire & Rescue said.
According to FGF&R spokesperson Matt Johnston, a homeowner was working on a burn pile roughly 20 feet away from a 400-square-foot outbuilding. Leaving to get more items to throw on the fire, the homeowner returned to find the building on fire.
Investigators believe an afternoon wind shift sent embers drifting to the shed, FGF&R said.
The fire was quickly knocked down by responding agencies, who worked to keep the flames from spreading to a nearby grass field.
“Escaped burn piles cause dozens of fires in our region every year. If you’re allowed to conduct a burn pile, follow the these simple safety tips,” Forest Grove Fire & Rescue said.
Never leave a burn pile unattended
Have proper equipment like a hose and shovel ready to use
Clear a bare dirt area around the burn pile
Fully extinguish the fire when done, make sure there are no more warm embers
I’m Chas Hundley, the founder of the Gales Creek Journal.
I grew up in Gales Creek at the Gales Creek Country Store and then on Highway 6, and I plan to spend my entire journalism career here. I hope you will sign up for a subscription today to join my mission to bring the best journalism possible to the Gales Creek area.
A photo shared by a nearby resident showed that Banks Fire was aiding Forest Grove Fire & Rescue as well.
“Minutes before this fire was dispatched, our crews along with others from Western Washington County responded to assist Gaston Rural Fire District with a fire at Stimson Lumber Mill,” FGF&RB explained. “Because of this, the majority of the response to Gales Creek was from Banks Fire District 13.”
This story has been updated with more information from Forest Grove Fire & Rescue
Chas Hundley is the editor of the Gales Creek Journal and sister news publications the Banks Post and the Salmonberry Magazine. He grew up in Gales Creek and has a cat.
