Jefferson Fire District Responds to Two Consecutive Fires

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Jefferson firefighters responded to a semi-truck and trailer with a load of hay on fire at 12:34 p.m. on Tuesday, August 17th, at the intersection of Old Salem Road and Conser in Millersburg, Oregon. According to Assistant Fire Chief Scott Shepherd the semi-truck with a pup attached came to a stop at Conser and Old Salem Road, Scott Maskal, who saw flames and the hay on fire when he notified the driver of the truck, Bob Mainard. Mr. Mainard has been employed for three years with Boshart Trucking. The truck is owned by Boshart Trucking. Mr. Mainard attempted to extinguish the fire using four fire extinguishers while standing on the top of the cab of the truck and kicking the hay bales away from the cab. When the cab of the truck caught on fire, Mr. Mainard had to get down from the truck, at which time the Jefferson firefighters arrived on scene. The fire had traveled underneath the hay and came up on both sides by the fuel tank. The pup trailer had the hay off loaded and was disconnected to save it from damage. In order to extinguish the hay fire, firefighters and Boshart Trucking pulled the bales of burning hay off the trailer and spread them out. Albany Fire responded to assist. Old Salem Road was closed for approximately 1 hour before the fire was deemed under control at 1:01 pm. Conser Road was blocked until 8:00 p.m. due to fire personnel removing debris. The cause of the fire is believed to have started from the hay being to close too the exhaust. The value of the destroyed semi-truck, trailer and hay is estimated at $22,400 according to Todd Boshart of Boshart Trucking. Todd Boshart stated the semi-truck, trailer and hay are insured. While Jefferson firefighters were still cleaning up the debris from the hay truck fire, Jefferson Fire was dispatched at 4:23 p.m. to a grass fire just off of I-5 at Milepost 239 northbound. The fire quickly went to a 3rd alarm and Albany, Turner and Stayton and Scio Fire departments were dispatched for assistance. I-5 northbound was closed for approximately 10 minutes then opened to one lane for an additional 30 minutes. The fire was believed to have started from a flail mower that was being used by ODOT to mow along the edge of the freeway. When Division Chief Troy Jurgens arrived on scene the fire had spread towards a partially harvested wheat field and was fast moving due to the winds. Fire personnel were able to keep the fire out of an un-harvested standing wheat field. The fire burned approximately 1 1/2 acres and was not considered to be of any financial loss due to the field already being harvested. The field was leased by Duane Nyquist and owned by Larry Langmade. The fire was deemed under control at 5:23 p.m. There were non injuries reported in either fire.
Author:Jefferson Fire District Press Release