Grass fire spreads to structure, burns near I5

Central Point, Ore. — Nearly three acres were burned during a grass fire in Central Point on Sunday, that got dangerously close to the Interstate.

The fire sparked on the 41-hundred block of Merita terrace, and spread to an outbuilding and trailer.

The Oregon Department of Forestry called out a helicopter and a bulldozer to help fight the blaze.

Fire officials said the wind played a large role in how fast the fire grew, and vegetation in the area fueled the flames even more.

“We had some significant fire behavior when it hit the brush and blackberries as it headed toward I5, so it had challenges on a couple fronts,” Jackson County Fire District Three Captain Will Clelland said.

Three homes in the area were threatened, but crews were able to stop the fire short, and even directed flames around one of the houses. No injuries have been reported.

Fire District Three, ODF, Rogue River, and Medford Fire-Rescue all responded. The cause has not yet been determined.