Fire officials are again warning of unexpectedly dry conditions throughout the area after a burn pile turned into a large vegetation fire near the intersection of South Gribble Road and Highway 170 south of Canby Wednesday afternoon.
The fire was reported shortly before 2 p.m. Almost two dozen firefighters were on the scene for several hours.
A countywide burn ban was in effect last week due to dry conditions, but cooler temperatures and light rain this weekend led officials to lift the prohibition.
“Basically, it’s getting too dry to burn and its catching people off guard,” Canby Fire Division Chief Matt English told The Canby Current Wednesday. “This was a burn pile that got out of control. It got into a grass seed field that looked green — but it was all dried up underneath. That’s what was burning.”
Fire officials say to use caution and have enough water, equipment and personnel on scene if you decide to burn. For the latest information on burning conditions, call the Canby Fire District’s daily burn line at 503-266-1195.
