Sunday night fire destroys home east of Waldport, leads to short evacuation warning

WALDPORT – A manufactured home on a 43-acre parcel high above the Alsea River burned to the ground Sunday night, leading to spot fires in the heavily forested area and a “Be Set” evacuation notice for neighbors for a few hours.

The homeowner, Buster Kittel, 72, was taken to Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation and later released. A few people living in the woods in the area were detained for a short time by Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputies when they refused to leave the scene.

Central Coast Fire & Rescue said Monday that it received the alarm at 6:34 p.m. Sunday for the home at 1187 E. Risley Creek Road, seven miles east of Waldport and north of the Alsea River on a narrow, twisting one-lane Forest Service Road. By the time the first engine arrived the house was engulfed in flames, according to a CCF&R news release, so crews began trying to knock down the blaze and keep it from spreading into the surrounding forest.

Because the area is not served by fire hydrants, establishing and maintaining an adequate water supply was a significant challenge, COCF&R said. In addition to its own water tender, Central Coast firefighters used tenders from the Yachats, Newport and East Lincoln departments to help supply water.

Crews from the Oregon Department of Forestry put on spot fires in the forest.

As a precautionary measure because of the potential for the fire spreading into the surrounding wooded area, Lincoln County sent a “Level 2: Be Set” notice to residents of the nearby Barclay Meadows subdivision below Kittel’s property.

The fire was brought under control and the area secured after six hours, COCF&R said.

An Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office investigator will try to determine the cause of the blaze. According to the Lincoln County assessor’s office, the home had a real market value of $475,000.