Bandon Dunes on fire?

[BrianL99]

Apparently there's a major fire at Bandon Dunes and 2 courses have been evacuated.

 

 

http://golfweek.com/news/2015/sep/07/golf-bandon-dunes-golf-course-on-fire-oregon-/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

[2putttom]

Damn gorse!.. I've made three calls to friends over two hours ago ...no one answered.

[2putttom]

Well ain't this a pisser..... Gorse...North wind and personal scrambling. I have friends there hope all is well.

[2putttom]

This is scary shyt. When I worked at the property ole timers would tell stories about the "great fire of 36". http://www.kval.com/news/local/Wildfire-north-of-Bandon-Dunes-Golf-Course-at-40-acres-325502911.html

[Smash Factors]

[i]"[color=#343434]Resort Manager Hank Hickox said the fire is burning around the exterior of the golf course and that the resort is using its irrigation system to help fight the fire. "[/color][/i]

http://www.kmtr.com/news/local/Fire-burning-north-of-Bandon-Dunes-estimated-at-40-acres-325505551.html

[Edaw68]

They must have it under control. The course cameras show people playing Pacific, and you can't really see smoke in the distance. Can't tell if Old Mac is open again.

[Matt J]

Sounds like they may have lost Sheep's Ranch. That would be a shame.

[mallrat]

Yeah, word is that Sheep Ranch was the fire and they evacuated Old Mac and Pac Dunes as a precautionary measure and Pac opened back up today and Old Mac tomorrow. They supposedly had it contained pretty quick and the local fire departments are giving a lot of credit to the agronomy staff at Bandon for their help.

Talked to a caddy yesterday and he was getting ready to go out on Pac when he said it just popped up all of a sudden. Wonder if it was a cigar or cigarette butt or something on Sheep Ranch since there wasn't any lightning or anything

[Matt J]

So dry it could have been just about anything.

[ryu123]

AMY MOSS STRONG of The World Newspaper reported:


BANDON — A brush and gorse fire prompted evacuations at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort on Monday afternoon and burned more than 40 acres before it was contained approximately three hours later.

Fire officials said the fire was caused by a 4-wheeler that backfired into tall grass on the south end of the Sheep Ranch property, a privately owned course at Bandon Dunes. The fire then jumped the road and headed up the ridge toward the Old Macdonald course.

The fire started about 2 p.m., and quickly grew. While the flames came close to Bandon Dunes' Old Macdonald course, no one was injured and it did not threaten any of the resort's facilities, according to General Manager Hank Hickox. He could not confirm whether any of the courses had burned, but he believed the fire was in the gorse and brush on the outskirts of the courses.

Hickox said Old Macdonald and Pacific Dunes were evacuated, as well as the Practice Center, and golfers were shuttled off the courses by the resort's vans. But the other courses at the resort remained open and golfers were invited to play there. A few golfers were seen playing Bandon Dunes after the fire was nearing containment.

Flames could be seen on Whiskey Run Road and some residents in that area were warned they might have to leave.

A strong wind from the north pushed the heavy smoke into Bandon and residents as far south as Gold Beach said they saw and smelled smoke. Smoke from the fire also was seen from Coquille and Coos Bay.

The Bandon Fire Department was first on the scene and the lead agency, and several other agencies responded, including the Coos Forest Protective Association, the Coquille Fire Department and the Millington Fire Department. Four bulldozers were employed and five water tankers were on scene to help battle the blaze. A helicopter was used to haul water from a nearby creek to drop on the flames. Bandon Dunes staff activated and concentrated the resort's irrigation systems on the Pacific Dunes and Old Macdonald courses to help abate the fire.

As of 4:30 p.m., no other agencies were requested for mutual aid. The fire was contained by about 5 p.m., but firefighters were on scene until at least 10 p.m.

Hickox said gorse abatement is important to Bandon Dunes and much of the gorse surrounding the courses has been mowed.

"We've been very careful with gorse," Hickox said. "Safety is always the issue for our guests and our staff.

"It all happened pretty fast and our team swept into action to help. But, as always, there was a great response from the Bandon Fire Department. I just want to thank the firefighters for their response, especially on a holiday. It's reassuring to have these rescuers here."

Hickox said the courses weren't as busy as usual on Monday because of the holiday and golfers who had been there for the weekend had already left before the fire erupted. Pacific Dunes and Old Macdonald will reopen Wednesday.

[Matt J]

I had a hunch it could've been an atv.