Yamhill County fire crews aiding their cohorts on Lee Falls Fire

Crews from rural Washington County fire agencies are getting some help in battling the Lee Falls Fire near Gaston.

In particular, the Yamhill Fire Protection District began Thursday, Aug. 8, organizing donations to crews fighting the fire. YFPD personnel are seeking the public’s help as well, putting out a call on the district’s social media page for bottled water, sports drinks, soda, individually wrapped packaged snack items, fruit and face/hand wipes.

Donations can be made at the YFPD station at 275 S. Olive St. in Yamhill or the Gaston station at 102 E. Main St. Donations at the Yamhill location can be left by the parking lot door if nobody is there.

“We will ensure that they are delivered to Gaston Fire,” YFPD officials said.

On Thursday evening, YFPD volunteers pitched in to support crews fighting the Lee Falls Fire by crafting hundreds of burritos, according to the agency.

The Lee Falls Fire began mid-morning Thursday and had topped more than 280 acres as of Friday afternoon, Aug. 9, although fire crews have dug containment lines around 75% of the blaze. The fire is threatening the town of Cherry Grove and the surrounding areas. No structures or homes had been destroyed or damaged by the fire as of Friday afternoon.

YFPD crews also have joined other fire operations that have been dispatched to the much larger Lone Rock Fire in eastern Oregon.

“They have been doing incredible work along with the other Yamhill County departments in their task force,” the site said.

The task forces from Tillamook, Marion and Yamhill counties have been assigned to that particular fire and bring a complement of 15 fire engines, tenders and brush rigs as well as approximate 45 structural firefighters, a release from the Oregon Department of Forestry said.