DAYTON–Three separate fires-all of unknown origin-and all burning along SR 12 a few miles east of here were brought under control and extinguished before damage became excessively extensive Friday, August 7.

The fires all started in the ditch at the end of the roadway, said District 3 Chief Jeromy Phinney. The cause is under investigation, he said. They were reported just before 6 p.m.

The first fire encountered by crews had barely begun burning in the cropland next to SR 12, Phinney said of conditions when he arrived on scene. The second fire was burning dry matter in the ditch but hadn't reached the crop and the third fire was burning in stubble.

Estimates of between 5-10 acres of standing wheat of James Farms, and some 40 acres of peas farmed by Dick Ingram, were lost to fire, according to Phinney.

At the second fire spot adjacent to the Mark and Sheri Lambert residence, a wider ditch meant the fire had not reached into the crop before firefighters were able to stop it.

The third fire was in wheat stubble and was promptly contained.

District 3 called for mutual aid from Districts 1 (Starbuck) and 2 (Waitsburg), and from Garfield County. Four tractors and disks from adjoining harvest operations rushed to help. Nine brush trucks, two water tenders and an ambulance were pressed into service.