3 Agencies Battle Brush Fire In Washington County

WASHINGTON COUNTY, OR — An initially-controlled burn on private property off Holly Hill Road in rural Washington County got out of control Wednesday, forcing the landowner to call firefighters for help.

The landowner reportedly fought his expanding burn piles with roughly 500 gallons of water for several hours before running out of water and needing to call for assistance.

Fire crews from Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, and the Hillsboro, Cornelius, and Gaston fire departments descended on the property just before 11 a.m. May 30. When they arrived at the source of the emergency, firefighters found between 12 and 15 acres burning through a ravine and toward the property owner's house.

High winds and thick and dry vegetation reportedly made battling the fire a difficult task. Additionally, a lack of water forced fire crews to truck in water from a Clean Water Services facility several miles north on Highway 219.

Though crews were able to get control of the fire, firefighters will reportedly remain in contact with the land owner to ensure nothing flares up overnight.

Images via Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue