Fire threatens homes in Payette
Thursday blaze chars more than 50 acres
By Katie Pizza
Argus Observer
Friday, June 20, 2008 11:16 AM PDT
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| A fire truck stands ready to tackle flames on this Payette County hillside Thursday afternoon. A residential burn erupted out of control and quickly spread into the hills near Center Avenue in Payette. No injuries were reported in the blaze. |
Payette — A blaze that began as a controlled burn but then spread into nearby hills charred 55 acres, threatened several homes and consumed resources from a number of different area emergency services agencies Thursday near Center Avenue in Payette.
“A guy was burning at his house on Center Avenue,” Payette Fire Chief Jeff Sand said on the scene.
Sands said 10 homes and one set of packing sheds were threatened, although no physical structures were lost.
“Multiple structures were threatened,” he said.
Sands said 62 firefighters fought the fire. In addition to Payette city and rural fire departments, Fruitland, United States Bureau of Land Management, Weiser city and rural, Parma, New Plymouth and Ontario fire departments also responded. He said two tender trucks, seven structure trucks, six light trucks, three heavies and four support vehicles rounded out the rigs on scene.
Payette County Sheriff deputies and Payette city police also provided traffic control.
About seven blocks of land burned, from Center Avenue in Payette south toward Clay Peak. Sands said the mutual aid system that connects the area departments was an asset in stopping the blaze. However, some area fire vehicles and personnel were delayed in getting to the scene because of traffic issues.
“It was a traffic nightmare,” he said. “The best thing people can do is stay out of the area.” He also said some homeowners attempted to protect their homes by using sprinklers and hoses. Sands said this action was a dangerous one if they were too close to the fire.
“All they are going to do is get hurt,” he said. Sands also cautioned against burning, stating the summer weather makes it easier for burns to spread rapidly.
“You had a point where you were burning nice and slow, but it’s obvious from this that it’s over,” Sands said.
gordiiito wrote on Jun 20, 2008 4:23 PM: