Happy Camp Fire
Happy Camp Fire - September 7, 2020
Our Response
On September 7, 2020 Netarts-Oceanside Fire District was dispatched at 10:45 pm to a Fire on Highway 131 two miles from Oceanside. The National Weather Service had issued a red flag warning and predicted that the weather would be hotter than normal that evening with high winds and low humidity. Due to the weather conditions, especially the high winds, a tree was blown down taking a power line with it. The fire, directly across from The Capes residential community, was started by the power line striking the very dry underbrush and fanned by the high winds the fire grew and spread quickly.
Netarts-Oceanside Fire District personnel responded from both station 61 in Netarts and station 62 in Oceanside with multiple engines to combat the raging hillside. Engine 62 took up a position North of the fire while Engine 61 took up a position South of the fire on highway 131. Combining a frontal and anterior attack on the fire, firefighters were able to contain the spread of the fire, despite the strong and erratic winds and flying embers. The Tillamook People’s Utility District (PUD) came in to shut-off power and repair the downed power line providing a safe area for the fire crews to work. Over the next several hours in extremely dangerous conditions, firefighters worked tirelessly extinguishing the main body of fire and “mopping up” all the hot spots, to ensure the fire was completely out and all fire district residents were safe.
We would like to thank our partnering service providers, Oceanside Water District and Tillamook PUD for their help while fighting the Happy Camp Fire.
