Two house fires were sparked on The Mountain in March.

Barlow Trail Road was the site of the first blaze on March 5. Dispatch at the
Hoodland Fire Department was notified at 9:34 a.m. and the first engine
arrived on the scene at 9:40 a.m.

The home, at 66081 E. Barlow Trail Road, was owned-occupied by Michael
Chestnut and his wife.

The origin of the fire appeared to be in a back utility room, according to
Hoodland Fire Chief Mic Eby.

"We made a good stop," Eby said. "We were able to contain the fire to the
kitchen area."

An engine and water tender from Brightwood, plus an engine and tender from
Hoodland battled the blaze. A total of 15 firefighters were on the scene.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Oregon State Police, Eby
said, and there is no other information available until the inquiry is completed.
On March 11, the home of James Mowrer, at 27093 E. Riverwood Lane off
Deer Park Road, went up in flames and was a total loss.

Ty Fasig and Jerry Hoskins were renter occupants but were not in the house
at the time.

The call came in at 3:49 a.m. and an engine crew plowed through the snow
and was on the scene at 4 a.m.

"It was a defensive fire from the beginning," Eby said. "When we got there the
roof had already caved in and three trees had caught fire."

It took 17 personnel to get the blaze under control – taking a total of 27
minutes. The fire was called out at 4:57 a.m. and there was no damage to
neighboring property.

The department investigation determined the cause of the fire was a faulty
wood stove.

"There was no owner insurance, no renter’s insurance," Eby said. "A total
loss."

Fasig told The Mountain Times that she had two cats that perished in the fire.