Landowner Torches Nearly 4 Acres Trying To Kill Yellow Jackets

WEST LINN, OR — A landowner trying to destroy a yellow jacket nest on his property inadvertently ignited a four-acre field fire southwest of West Linn Thursday morning.

According to Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue officials, the unidentified landowner admitted to creating a mix of oil and gasoline to burn away the yellow jacket nest but lost control of the fire when wind quickly spread it across the dry brush.

“Because of the nature of our work, we uniquely understand the incredible speed at which fire can spread, but I believe most people are unaware of the potential destruction fire can cause," TVF&R Fire Marshal Steve Forster said in a statement. "When dry vegetation, low humidity, and hot temperatures are added to the mix, we have conditions for extreme fire behavior. This can cause a small spark to become a big problem."

Just before noon, when TVF&R crews arrived at the property along Southwest Schaeffer Road near the intersection with W Road, the fire was already blazing across three acres with the potential to spread even further.

Firefighters were able to get control of the blaze — despite being challenged by extreme temperatures and now very angry yellow jackets —before the fire spread to nearby trees.

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"Wildfire can happen here," TVF&R officials said plainly. "This is a week in which extreme caution should be exercised to ensure fires don’t start in the first place."

Images via Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue