HERMISTON, Ore.-Fire crews with Umatilla County Fire District 1 had a busy afternoon on June 26, responding to multiple fires and a car incident, all within a few hours.
Firefighters were dispatched to reports of a structure fire in the area of W Standard Ave. & NW 7th Street in Hermiston, and found a brush fire burning between several homes when they arrived around 1:10 p.m.
Umatilla Rural Fire Protection District provided mutual aid at the fire and crews were able to get it out before it spread to any homes or buildings, according to UCFD1.
Around 2:24 p.m., UCFD1 responded to Echo to provide mutual aid for a brush fire near milepost 189 on I-84.
The Echo Fire Department and UCFD1 crews were able to contain the fire at about an acre in size before being dispatched to their next call, a vehicle incident on Bridge Road.
According to UCFD1, multiple people in both of the involved cars were injured and transported to the hospital by the Boardman Fire Rescue District and Life Flight.
The Hermiston Police Department, Oregon State Police and Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office all helped UCFD1 in responding to the three incidents that happened within two hours.
While the cause of both fires is still unknown and under investigation, UCFD1 is reminding residents of Eastern Oregon to practice firework safety ahead of the 4th of July.
Resources on safely using legal fireworks are also available through the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office.
