Lightning strike caused Upper Road Fire

A fire that broke out last week just north of Weiser was likely caused by lightning, according to Weiser Fire Chief Tim Atwood.

 The Upper Road Fire, which burned an estimated 600 acres, reportedly sparked in the hills at a point north of Weiser High School and Rolling Hills Golf Course.

 The Weiser Fire District got the call on Wednesday, Sept. 7 at 6:40 p.m. The department immediately called for assistance from neighboring agencies, including Midvale, Indian Valley, Payette, Fruitland, and Ontario. Sand Hollow Fire District also responded with a dozer crew and a wildland engine. 

 Temperatures are typically high, and the landscape dry, this time of year and with reported winds and lightning strikes in the area, it was the perfect storm for what could have been a large and prolonged fire event, potentially putting houses and the community in danger.

 “We would have also requested assistance from Payette National Forest and BLM fire; however all of their resources were already deployed on other fires. This fire had the potential to spread quickly and threaten several homes in the area,” Atwood said. 

 A few homeowners were asked to leave the area around their homes. 

 According to Atwood, the fire was contained by 2:30 a.m. Thursday morning. Fire crews remained on scene Thursday to monitor for hot spots.  

 “A dozer from the Payette National Forest became available Thursday morning and went to work reinforcing the fire line along the north side,” he said.

 Several local property owners brought equipment to the scene, including dozers and tractor-drawn discs. 

 “There were some tense moments involving local equipment operators who wanted to assist,” Atwood said. “It is important that people wanting to help understand all firefighting efforts must be managed and directed by the Incident Command operating the scene. Safety of civilians and firefighters is always our first priority. Civilians freelancing on the fire scene hinder operations and put firefighters, as well as the public, at risk. Before bringing equipment to an incident, contact dispatch and get permission first. 

 “We are fortunate to have a good working relationship with fire districts throughout the area, as well as the BLM and Forest Service. We would not have been able to control this fire quickly without their help. Washington County Sheriffs office and Weiser City Police were instrumental in our efforts at this fire.”

Response Delayed

 Atwood said response was also hindered by people watching the fire as it raged behind the golf course and high school.

 “There were, literally, hundreds of people up here causing problems,” he said. “Roads were so congested, and then there were people with good intentions who thought they were going to fight the fire, but they actually caused a few problems. We did have a couple of farmers set up with tractors and discs, and a couple of dozers, and they were helpful in setting up containment lines.”

 The Washington County Sheriff’s office and Weiser City Police were forced to clear streets and block them off so equipment and crews could reach the area.

 “We understand people from the community have concern for their neighbors and what is going on, but we also have a job to do,” Chief Deputy Brady Johnston told the Weiser Signal American Thursday afternoon. “When the road is jammed packed with people just wanting to see it, it hinders response.”

 Johnston said cars lined the roadways on Valley View Drive, Indianhead Road, and out to Jenkins Creek.

 “We made the decision to shut down roads to deter people’s movement because there was so much,” he said.

 Roads were reportedly clogged with people and their vehicles, making it difficult for emergency services to get through and for landowners to get their equipment where it needed to be to help contain the fire.

 Sheriff Matt Thomas said he understands that people were concerned last week but asks the public to keep a distance when emergencies occur. 

 “I get everyone wants to see what’s going on, but we ask people to stay out of the area because you are hindering what we are trying to do, to the point that people are going to get hurt and lose their homes, lose their lives, and we don’t want that to happen,” he said. “So, we just ask people to stay out of the area and let us do our job and when it’s safe to open things up, we’ll do that but until then, I just really want people to understand that it’s best for everyone to stay away and let emergency services do their job.”