Chip fire likely caused by spontaneous combustion

By Nicole Montesano

Smoke Signals staff writer

Crews from Grand Ronde Emergency Services and other agencies responded to a fire in a wood chip pile at Hampton Lumber on Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 26, rapidly suppressing it.

Tribal Administrative Services Lieutenant Mariah Walters said the same pile had caught fire on Sunday, Aug. 23, just before midnight.

“The fire was most likely caused by moisture in the chips causing heat generation that eventually ignited the material,” Walters said in an email. “This is very similar to what happens with hay if the moisture content is too high. The fire on Aug. 23 was contained to Hampton Lumber’s property and was quickly suppressed by fire crews. Hampton put the pile on a fire watch and has been working to get it removed from the property. Due to the size of the wood chip pile, however, it will take some time to remove.”

On Wednesday afternoon, crews were called back.

“We believe the second fire was either a rekindle from the previous fire or an additional start from the moisture in the pile, despite Hampton’s continued fire watch and mitigation efforts,” Walters said.  “Since the pile was already on fire watch, the fire was reported quickly and Hampton staff began suppression efforts before CTGR crews arrived. The fire was, again, rapidly suppressed and contained to the Hampton property.”

She added that throughout the night, Hampton employees began spreading the pile to cool it and make it easier to access.

“Additionally, they are working to move the pile away from property lines and other piles of combustible material,” she said. “They continue to have the pile on fire watch with their own water truck on site. They anticipate being able to remove the pile in its entirety by the end of next week. During both responses, CTGR crews were able to utilize the ladder truck using an elevated master stream to quickly cool the pile from above. Water tender shuttles were required to provide water supply, since the area does not have hydrants. There was no threat to any structures or neighboring properties during either fire.”

Neighboring districts sent help from Sheridan Fire District, Amity Fire District, Southwest Polk Fire District and the Oregon Department of Forestry.

“As always, we appreciate our mutual aid partners’ assistance,” she said.