By QUINTON SMITH/YachatsNews
A large brush fire caused by fireworks on the beach closed a four-mile stretch U.S. Highway 101 between Waldport and Yachats for more than five hours Sunday as firefighters from seven agencies battled the stubborn, wind-whipped blaze.
The fire was reported just before 3 p.m. drawing a massive response from five local departments and firefighters from the Oregon Department of Forestry and U.S. Forest Service.
Five homes on the east side of the highway between Whitecap Drive and Azalea Lane were evacuated and residents of others nearby were told to be ready to leave. But, firefighters kept the blaze – about 300 yards long and burning in thick brush at the base of a large cliff and on the west edge of the highway – away from any homes and structures.
Residents and vacation home renters were able to return Sunday evening when the highway reopened about 8:30 p.m.
The massive response was due to high winds and extremely dry conditions following a month with little to no rain on the coast.
“This is the worst early fire weather we’ve had in years,” said Chief Jamie Mason of Central Oregon Coast Fire & Rescue, who was incident commander.
Newport Fire Chief Rob Murphy said the wind and the inaccessibility of flames at the top of the cliff were the big issue. A large beach rig from Newport was fighting the fire from below as hand crews from the Forest Service attacked the burning area nearest the beach.
Firefighters and equipment from the Yachats, Seal Rock and East Lincoln departments also fought the blaze. There was a fire hydrant on the south end of the closed stretch of highway but firefighters on the north end had to use water brought in by tenders.
Sunday afternoon holiday traffic stacked up north and south of the fire until Lincoln County Sheriff deputies and state highway crews began sending people on a detour along Range and Crestline drives and Wakonda Beach Road. Many people were unaware of the detour and spent hours in the ODOT weigh station to the north of the fire.
An eyewitness told firefighters he saw a firework go off, then smoke and a man run up trail to get a fire extinguisher out of his vehicle. He took off when he saw the extinguisher could not deal with the rapidly spreading fire.
Later, deputy state fire marshal Shannon Miller and Oregon State Police troopers retrieved the remnants of a mortar from the burned area.
Firefighters from Yachats and the Oregon Department of Forestry were spending the night at the scene to jump on any re-kindled fire from hot spots. State crews remained at the site Monday to do mop up work and put down any flareups.
To see a video of the fire taken from the beach by Carol Wehmeyer, go here.
Thank you, firefighters and other responders !!!
Maybe this is enough. It’s time to ban the sale of fireworks . Organized displays could and should be enough for reasonable people.
I agree. I lived in an area of our country that has had a fireworks ban for over 50 years due to forest fire danger. Organized displays are the generally accepted activity. Unfortunately unreasonable people live everywhere.
Totally, people who come and visit the place in which we live, light off fireworks and bail out. What a man he was, way to take responsibility. I am beyond upset at that guy, and yes it’s time we ban the sale of fireworks, it’s completely out of control, no respect for the dangers they present.
Also, as you drive into Newport, it says no fireworks, yet a little ways into town are those gaudy tents, selling fireworks. It makes no sense at all, it’s like saying no alcohol is allowed, but hey there is a place nearby where you can buy it.
Thank you, well said. We own land on the beach and have to deal with trespassing short term renters with no respect for the area. Every year they shoot off fireworks, flash bangs and build fires on the beach within inches of the vegetation. Although I have reported this to the Sheriff’s Department we have never received any help. Quite the opposite. The Yachats Fire Department does do their job but they can only do so much.
I have never understood why tourists bring fireworks with them and shoot them off on the beach.
Really? Just charge the people responsible for the blaze and go on with life. Fireworks are part of the celebration. We all grew up with them and so it should remain that way. I say if you don’t like fireworks then move to some place that does not celebrate the Fourth of July.
Obviously the person bailed and did not take responsibility leaving the town and residents with the mess.
Giz didn’t say that they didn’t like fireworks. Go back and reread the comment. They just suggested a different means. Things have changed, we all need to adapt.
Fireworks are no longer something we should be associating with “fun”. Anywhere or anytime. Controlled or otherwise. It is time. They are obsolete. There are lazer and light shows that would be just as exciting and safer. We need to begin new traditions in this country and ban fireworks for the good of our planet and our animals.
Exactly life is full of risks and where I come from the power company can burn down your entire town and surrounding towns taking everything including lots of lives and that’s the way it is in Paradise, Calif. With that in mind, how about we ban electricity? Sounds stupid, right? So there you have it. Do your best preventing tragedy and … and enjoy the Fourth
My aunt lost everything in California’s Camp Fire. My uncle lost a life-long friend. The comparison between fireworks and electricity is insulting and hurtful.
Insulting, hurtful, and quite moronic.
👍
Yes. It could not be more clear that this needs to happen.
I totally agree with you and yet people here in Eugene are thinking they “fought for our freedom” to have fireworks. Selfish.
100% agreed
Great photos! Many thanks to our first responders.
Impressed and so grateful for all who responded to this fire to stop further catastrophe on our too windy day. Well done indeed. Glad I voted for the increased budget for our fire stations. 🙂 Thank you all for being there and knocking this fire down and saving our homes.
Ban fireworks and raise the penalties for possessing them. I’m thinking 5000 hours community service and a $20K fine and or 3 yrs prison time.
Thank you so much for our great first responders. If it wasn’t for their hard work alot people could’ve lost their homes. Good job
I’m sick of the fire danger from having all sorts of fireworks in a forested area such as where we live. Every year there are so many reports of illegal mortars and bottle rockets being set off around here, that the sheriff can’t even respond effectively. They should all be banned with strict penalties for violators.
Actually they already are. Mortars that fly up in the air are illegal in Oregon everywhere and it is illegal to shoot off fireworks on the beaches. There is just no enforcement.
Yes! They declare that fireworks are illegal, then tell the citizen’s to not call the police unless something is on fire. Makes zero sense, and there were mortars going off for an hour and a half in very close proximity to over 100 apartment units. I hold no hope for things to change, sadly.
Personal fireworks should have been banned a long time ago. How much more property / land loss must we endure just so a few people can make a buck ?
Ban all community fireworks sales in Lincoln County!
Cite all others that shoot off fireworks in our communities. The noise and air quality issues from fireworks are harmful to humans and our pets. The fire danger and potential for destruction of property and harm to lives are not worth it.
Not just Lincoln, the entire west.
Thank you, firefighters! I’ll add my “voice” to those wanting to ban fireworks. It’s way past time.
I cannot believe they even sell fireworks here in Oregon …
Thank you firefighters! You are greatly appreciated .
We were camping south of Waldport and were driving back from town and smelled the fire, then saw the plume of smoke in our rearview. It was wicked windy, so we got our trailer hitched up & heard so many sirens. Great job by firefighters getting this put out. I watched in real time from the beach & saw the beach engine return and drive up into our campground.
Most states banned fireworks long ago. Let’s stop the sale of fireworks state wide asap
I’m sure we all remember the Eagle Creek Fire in the Gorge a few years ago, caused by a teen-aged boy tossing a firecracker into the brush. It took months to contain and the damage will take centuries to recover. Over a hundred day-hikers were forced to spend the night on the trail. At least one woman lost her home. It’s a miracle no one was killed. Personally, I am willing to give up my “right” to use these dangerous toys and show my patriotism by helping preserve these national treasures — our precious forests.
Many many thanks to the first responders and to the Yachats News for this local reporting.
Just adding my thank you to the list — to all the first responders including 911 dispatchers for a successful team effort. Fireworks are no more a right than murder is. Fires literally kill. As a reporter I covered too many fires in Utah. Deaths are the worst be it families in an apartment house or a forest ranger sitting atop a bulldozer. It’s unconscionable not to prevent death and destruction when you can. I know. I’ve seen it. You never forget it.
After this fire, we had the quietist July 4th in years. Not sure if it was the blocking of Highway 101 or the smoke or the large news media exposure but somebody got the message. I wonder if all those folks selling firewood bundles along the highway just south of Waldport got the message too?