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Series of fires caught early By JENNIFER NITSON Ashland Daily Tidings Ashland police and fire department investigators searched this morning for a cause of the several small grass fires that were discovered at 4 a.m. along the bike path between Walker Avenue and Tolman Creek Road. Ashland Police Department, Ashland Fire and Rescue, and Jackson County Fire District No. 5 converged on the scene in the pre-dawn hours to put out between five and 10 grass fires, which averaged 15 to 20 square feet each. The fires were out in about an hour. "We have not ruled out some connection with the railroad or a train," said Ashland Fire and Rescue Chief Keith Woodley. "There's no electrical there. There's no human activity that could have caused it. That's why we're investigating it as a suspicious fire." Human activity, according to Woodley, such as construction work, weed whacking, barbecues, and outdoor burning are often the causes of grass fires. It is unlikely any of these activities took place at that time along the bike path. Fire is an ever-present concern during the summer months, and every year firefighters face blazes sparked by machinery, arson, train traffic or other causes. In 2002, a series of fires burned down three homes and the rear deck of a second house. Two of those fires were caused by spontaneous combustion in rubbish or weed piles. There were also numerous fires in downtown garbage cans and small grassy areas scattered around the city. In November that year, a man was charged with reckless burning following a fire which burned through 5 acres of grassy fields in the railroad district. Woodley was at the scene of this morning's fires, one of which was in close proximity to residential housing on Takelma Way. "I couldn't tell from where I was if they had separated because of spotting or if they were different fires." LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -