UPDATED Tuesday, March 17, 2009 --- 7:00 p.m.

Updated press release from City of Fitchburg Fire Department:

On March 17, at 3:54 a.m. the City of Fitchburg Fire Department, along with automatic aid units from Town of Madison, Verona and Oregon fire departments, responded to a report of a hay shed on fire at 5140 County Trunk M, the Oregon State Farm, in the City of Fitchburg. The fire was discovered by an inmate working at the Oregon State Farm and notified their supervisor who contacted to 9-1-1.

The first arriving unit, Fitchburg Engine 1 (FIE1), reported finding a single story, hay storage shed, fully involved with fire at 4:04 a.m., which was located approximately 700 feet off of the main roadway. After laying a 4” supply line from Hwy M, FIE1 strategically placed hand lines to protect exposures and start extinguishing the fire. Oregon Engine 1 (ORE1) supplied FIE1 with water as they worked at the dump site on Hwy M at the entrance to the farm. Fitchburg Car 1 (FIC1) arrived on scene shortly after FIE1 and assumed Hwy M Command.

Due to the rural setting, no fire hydrants available at the scene of the fire, a water shuttle was started; which grew to a third alarm (for tenders only) with 12 tenders from area fire departments. Over the 15 hours tit took to totally extinguish the fire; over 124,000 gallons of water were transported to the scene for use in the firefighting effort.
Mutual aid was received from Shorewood Hills, Monona, Belleville, Middleton and Brooklyn fire departments. The Firefighting staff was upgraded to a second alarm for personnel. A total of 10 Apparatus responded in addition to the 12 tenders. Overall, a total of 75 firefighters and paramedics were on scene at some point during the incident.

The building, approximately 120’ x 40’ pole type building with metal siding and roof, was filled with hay which was used for bedding purposes on the farm. During the fire, the metal roof collapsed onto the hay that was stored inside of the building, which caused difficulty for the firefighters to get directly to the seat of the fire and extinguish the fire. Consequently an excavator needed to be called in to assist with the removal of the roof covering and to spread out the piles of hay so the fire could be extinguished. The structure, which was built in 1992 at a cost of $38,000, and contents are a total loss.

Even though the fire incident took place on a correctional facility grounds, there was no concern of an attempt to escape by the inmates, who were housed at the farm. They were still in the bunkhouse under supervision at the time of the incident. There were inmates who were working in the farm buildings nearby, but were closely supervised by Oregon State Farm staff during the duration of the incident.

At this point the fire remains under investigation by the State Fire Marshall’s Office.

There were no injuries reported during this incident from staff, inmates, or fire department personnel.

There were no livestock lost or endangered during this incident.

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UPDATED Tuesday, March 17, 2009 --- 9:05 a.m.

Press release from the City of Fitchburg Fire Department:

The City of Fitchburg Fire Department, along with automatic aid units from Town of Madison, Verona and Oregon fire departments, responded to a report of a barn on fire at 5140 County Trunk M, the Oakhill Correctional Farm, in the City of Fitchburg.

First arriving units reported a 40' x 125' hay barn with heavy fire showing. Mutual aid was then requested from Shorewood Hills, Monona, Belleville, Middleton and Brooklyn fire departments.

The barn contained hay and is a total loss. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, but is not believed to be suspicious in nature.

No injuries to facility personnel or first responders were reported.

No livestock were at risk.

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Posted Tuesday, March 17, 2009 --- 7:30 a.m.

This morning multiple crews responded to a huge barn fire.

The flames broke out just before 4:00 a.m. on County Highway M at the Oregon State Farm, which is part of the Department of Corrections.

The fire destroyed the hay storage barn.

All inmates at the facility are accounted for and there are no injuries.

At last check (7:30 a.m.), County Road M between Caine Road and County MM is closed so avoid that area.