A half-acre brush fire erupted at the top of Skinner Butte in Eugene early Tuesday morning and fire officials think it may have been caused by fireworks.
According to the Eugene Springfield Fire Department, firefighters were called to the butte at 12:15 a.m. where they worked quickly to contain a fire estimated at half an acre. It took first responders about two hours to fully extinguish hot spots.
The site of the fire had just undergone vegetation management by Eugene Parks and Open Space in partnership with the Eugene Rotary Club and Twin River Charter School.
On June 24, workers trimmed grasses in the area, which Eugene officials say likely reduced the intensity of Tuesday's fire.
"This timely action underscores the importance of ongoing maintenance and hazard reduction in preserving the safety of our natural areas," Kelly Shadwick, spokesperson for Eugene Parks and Open Space, said in a news release.
According to Shadwick, fuel mitigation efforts at the park have focused on removing non-native shrubs and small trees that have invaded a significant portion of the natural area, increasing the risk of a damaging fire.
Removing dense and overgrown vegetation on the slope can decrease the chance of a wildfire from reaching the tree canopy and improve firefighters' ability to respond to the fire.
Witness statements at the scene of the fire indicate fireworks may have been a cause of Tuesday's fire, though this was not confirmed as of Tuesday.
"A spark can ignite a wildfire in just moments," Shadwick said. "The public is reminded that fireworks are prohibited within Eugene city limits, including parks and natural areas."
Increase in fireworks-related calls
According to Melinda McLaughlin, spokesperson for the Eugene Police Department, dispatch calls regarding illegal fireworks between 8 p.m. on July 4 and 2 a.m. on July 5 rose to a staggering 185 calls in 2023, the highest volume the department has seen in at least eight years. In contrast, only 131 calls were reported during the same time period in 2022 and 128 calls were reported in 2021.
The lowest number of illegal fireworks reported to Eugene Police within the last eight years was 40 calls in 2019.
Firework bans and safety
A heat wave is expected to hit Eugene starting Thursday — the Fourth of July — with a high temperature of 93 degrees and a low of 59 degrees. Over the weekend, temperatures are forecasted to reach triple digits ranging between 98 and 105 degrees.
Long stretches of hot and dry weather could dry out fuels rapidly and increase wildfire danger quickly, leading to a long summer of high wildfire risk in Oregon.
On Monday, the Oregon Department of Forestry officially declared fire season in the Western Lane District Monday, which means the manufacture, sale or use of fireworks is prohibited in unincorporated areas of Lane County. Violation of the law is punishable by up to $1,000 in fines or 30 days in jail.
Legal fireworks sold from June 23 to July 6 in Oregon include flitter sparklers, fountains, ground spinners and spinning wheels. These fireworks often stay on the ground and are easy to control, however, while legal in Oregon, these fireworks are banned in Eugene.
The maximum penalty for violating the ordinance is a fine of up to $500 if you buy, sell or set off fireworks within the city limits
In Springfield, there are no banned areas where people can use legal fireworks.
Haleigh Kochanski is a breaking news and public safety reporter for The Register-Guard. You may reach her at HKochanski@gannett.com.
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