Redmond, Ore. — Fire crews worked through Wednesday mopping up the smoldering remains of the Euston Fire, which scorched an estimated 35 acres near Redmond. The blaze prompted Level 2 “Be Set” evacuation notices in the area, putting residents on alert.
The fire ignited at the end of Euston Lane, reportedly due to an illegal burn by a neighbor, according to local residents. Fire Marshal Tom Mooney of Redmond Fire and Rescue confirmed the acreage affected and praised the swift response from firefighters.
Neighbor Zach Hastings, who lives off Coyner Avenue just down the hill from the fire’s origin, described the rapid escalation. “I smelt it first. We ran out from the shop to take a look because everything’s dry. That’s when I hopped in my tractor and yelled at my wife to call 911 and get someone coming this way,” Hastings said.
The fire quickly threatened homes nearby, coming within 200 feet of the front porch of Hastings’ in-laws. “There was just a wall of flames barreling down. The wind was headed right towards my in-laws’ house, and there wasn’t much I was going to be able to do by myself,” he added.
Fortunately, Hastings was not alone. “The community really just showed up. We had friends, family, people I didn’t even know show up with shovels and were cutting fire lines,” he said, highlighting the collective effort to protect homes.
Neighbor Carrie Caramella expressed gratitude for the quick response and community support. “We’re grateful that it was a quick response from our neighbor, and that everyone came so quickly,” she said.
Despite the close call, residents remain optimistic and are using the experience to better prepare. “We were fortunate. The wind was blowing in the right direction so it protected us. It’s made us look at where we might have to put some fire breaks in,” said neighbor Ron Caramella.
Hastings reflected on the broader implications for the community. “Two weeks ago we had open burning. We could have been burning all of our fields out here and it could happen to anybody. I’m just happy the community came together, and even though our community’s growing and we may not know each other, they still all showed up,” he said.
The man who admitted to starting the fire apologized profusely to neighbors and expressed his gratitude for the prompt response from fire crews. While he declined to go on camera, his remorse was clear.
As fire crews continue to mop up, the incident serves as a reminder of the dangers of illegal burning and the strength of community response in the face of wildfire threats.
