Fire chief: Meat smoker sparked fire that burned homes near Springfield without hydrants

A burning meat smoker sparked the fire Sunday that displaced three people from two destroyed homes in a neighborhood without hydrants by Dorris Ranch, south of Springfield, said Eugene Springfield Fire Chief Mike Caven.

Caven said the fire investigation revealed residents were cooking when the smoker caught fire. The fire spread to two homes and some outbuildings.

No injuries were reported, but multiple conditions made fighting the fire challenging.

More:Firefighters hampered by lack of hydrants as large fire burns homes in Springfield

"Heat was huge. It was one of the hottest days of the year so far, and the fire occurred right there at peak temperature," Caven said. "The vegetation around the houses, multiple outbuildings and cars that burned provided a tremendous fuel load for firefighters to get to, and being able to access that during the early phases of the fire proved difficult."

Caven said it was also windy, which helped spread the flames.

The fire burned in a neighborhood of primarily manufactured homes positioned close together outside city limits. The area doesn't have a system of fire hydrants, requiring the firefighters to bring water to the scene in trucks.

Caven said dispatchers send water-carrying trucks, called water tenders, to fire emergencies in areas without hydrants.

Eugene Springfield Fire has three water tenders, with one usually positioned about five miles from the scene of the fire.

One such truck initially was sent to the area, Caven said, arriving a few minutes behind the first engines. The first firefighters arrived at about 12:30 p.m., but Caven said dispatchers didn't log the exact time the water truck arrived.

Crews called for a second water truck when it was clear the fire was threatening additional homes. All three Eugene Springfield Fire water tenders eventually were sent out, as well as five additional water tenders from other agencies.

"By the time that large what we call a water shuttle operation was in play, the firefighters on the scene had stopped forward progress of the fire and we utilized those additional water resources to mop things up," Caven said.

Caven said most Eugene Springfield Fire responses happen in areas with access to fire hydrants, but he estimated there are between eight to 10 structure fire calls each year that require the use of water tenders.

Contact reporter Adam Duvernay at aduvernay@registerguard.com. Follow on Twitter @DuvernayOR.