PHOTO: A wildland fire started in the early morning hours on Monday, Sept. 30 on the top of Serviceberry Hill near downtown Vernon. Although the fire was small, high winds and the proximity to area homes created a potentailly dangerous fire situation.
Ironically, the fire was a result of a fuel reduction project where residents were working to clear some of the brush and trees from their private property; they had concluded the process on Friday, Sept. 27. Slash piles were burned and buried as per standard procedures.
With the very strong winds occurring Monday morning, some buried embers were uncovered and the dense trees on top of the hill ignited. Winds at 5 a.m. Monday were sustained at 25 mph and gusts were above 35 mph on the hilltop.