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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Police say Grants Pass man admits to 50 vehicle thefts in Rogue Valley ... Sterlingville Cemetery cleanup will include insight into pioneers' hard lives ... Ashland upskirt photography suspect arrested ... Police say Grants Pass man admits to 50 vehicle thefts in Rogue Valley ... Sterlingville Cemetery cleanup will include insight into pioneers' hard lives ... Ashland upskirt photography suspect arrested ... SINCE YOU ASKED Since You Asked: Water trucks ready to snuff out I-5 grass fires Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jun. 17, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Jun. 17, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News This week I saw a water truck accompanying mowers cutting grass along I-5 near the town of Rogue River. The truck had a sign on it that said "Water." Are water trucks always with the mowers, or have they been added because of the mower-sparked fire along I-5 on June 10? — No name given After the fire, Oregon Department of Transportation district management required that all mowing along I-5 have a water truck on standby and be finished by 1 p.m., said ODOT Spokesman Gary Leaming. The eight-acre fire along the edge of the interstate near Hugo north of Grants Pass was likely caused by a spark from a mower's blade striking a rock or other hard object, ODOT officials believe. One I-5 lane was closed as area firefighters safeguarded nearby structures and stopped the fire. The incident occurred a few days before the Oregon Department of Forestry elevated the local fire danger level to high. According to fire regulations during high danger conditions, mowing dead or dry grass with power-driven equipment is banned from 1 to 8 p.m. The ban does not apply to the mowing of green grass or to agricultural crop growing and harvesting activities. Leaming said ODOT typically has a water truck accompany mowing operations during the fire season in Southern Oregon. At the time of the June 10 fire along I-5, the Grants Pass area maintenance crew had only one water truck available. It was accompanying a mower working along Highway 199 in the Selma and Kerby area southwest of Grants Pass. Neighboring homes were closer to the mowing operations in that area, Leaming said. Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected]. To see a collection of columns, go to mailtribune.com/youasked . We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jun. 17, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501