A fire that posed a threat to the historic Charles Applegate House in Yoncalla burned 23 acres of grass, brush and small trees late Thursday afternoon. 

About 30 firefighters from the Douglas Forest Protective Association and North Douglas County Fire and EMS responded to the fire at the end of Old Applegate Road at about 3:00 p.m.  Working alongside eight engines, a bulldozer, a helicopter, and a reconnaissance airplane, firefighters took control of the fire at about 5:30 p.m.  The fire was stopped less than one quarter mile from the Applegate Home.

“It was a tough fire,” says DFPA spokesman Tom Fields.  “The wind was pushing it pretty quick through the dry grass and towards the house and other outbuildings.”  Fields said that a shift in the wind helped firefighters gain control of the fire, which showed a lot of potential of turning into a much larger incident.  The fire was started by a person welding on a fence near dry grass.

The fire is a good reminder that fire season is still in effect.  Continued warm conditions forecasted for the rest of the week will enable fire danger to rise daily.  Fire restrictions still in place include no open fires, such as campfires, warming fires, backyard burn piles and incinerators.  Campfires must be kept in approved DFPA campgrounds.  Smoking and off road driving are also prohibited on lands protected by DFPA.  The cutting and grinding of metal in dry grass and forested areas is also prohibited.  For a complete list of fire season restrictions, log onto www.dfpa.net or call the Association’s closure information line at (541) 672-0379.