On Oct 17th, while Umatilla County Fire District #1 crews were actively engaged in suppressing a wildland fire in the West Elm area, crews were also dispatched to a report of a fire in the 300 block of Theater Lane at approximately 12:00PM.

While Battalion Chief 21, Chief 21, and multiple brush engines & water tenders remained on scene at West Elm, Engine 23 and Chief 23 arrived at Theater Lane to find a large, commercial-style recycling container with smoke and flames showing.

Crews quickly worked to move the container away from a nearby building and semi-trailer to prevent any spread. The contents of the container were then safely dumped and fully extinguished.

Firefighters remained on scene to conduct overhaul operations to ensure the fire was completely out and there was no potential for the fire to rekindle. No injuries were reported, and no damage occurred to nearby structures. The cause of both fires is under investigation.

UCFD #1 would like to thank our mutual aid partners, Boardman Fire Rescue District and Umatilla Rural Fire Protection District, for their assistance with resources and personnel on the West Elm Fire.

Thank you to our community for your continued support. Reminder to make sure discarded materials are fully cooled and properly disposed of to reduce the risk of accidental fires.