Posted: Tuesday, September 9, 2008 12:00 am
Firefighters work to put out a brush fire Monday afternoon on Higbee Road north of the Santiam Bluffs near Jefferson. A spark from a tractor that was baling straw ignited wheat stubble and started the fire, which wind gusts spread into thick brush and tress, burning approximately 7 acres. About 40 firefighters from Jefferson, Albany, Turner, Stayton and Marion County Fire District No. 1 responded and had the fire under control within 2½ hours. The Scio Fire District remained on stand-by in Jefferson to cover other emergencies. The tractor, owned and operated by Tom Brawley of Jefferson, had stalled, according to the Jefferson fire district. When Brawley tried to get it re-started, he noticed that the wheat stubble under the tractor was on fire. He suffered a minor burn to his leg, but did not require medical treatment. There were no firefighter injuries reported and the only loss was $500 to replace the two front tires on the tractor.