'Suspicious' fire at lumber mill, electrical fire prompt concern for Eugene-Springfield

As temperatures are expected to climb to nearly 100 degrees in the Willamette Valley on Thursday, the Eugene Springfield Fire Department is urging residents to do their part in preventing wildfires.

Local firefighters had a busy night on Tuesday after responding to vegetation fires in both Eugene and Springfield.

Just after 8 p.m., the Department was alerted to a vegetation fire at a local milling facility near West 1st Ave. and South Bertelsen Road.

Crews arrived at the scene to find the fire burning at two log piles at the milling facility and were able to contain the fire before it damaged the logs.

According to ESFD, the fire is "suspicious" and is under investigation by the Fire Marshal's Office.

No more than an hour later, fire crews responded to a vegetation fire near a water tower at the 600 block of Quarry Road around 9 p.m. in Springfield.

Crews arrived to find the fire burning in vegetation near a power pole with an open fuse, leading crews to preliminarily determine an electrical problem had caused the fire.

Firefighters managed to quickly contain the fire before it could threaten nearby homes.

Haleigh Kochanski is a breaking news and public safety reporter for The Register-Guard. You may reach her at HKochanski@gannett.com .

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: 'Suspicious' fire at lumber mill, electrical fire prompt concern for Eugene-Springfield