Fire damages It’s a Burl wood gallery – Medford News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News

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Fire damages It’s a Burl wood gallery By Vickie Aldous By Mail Tribune staff Updated: Feb 28, 2022 12:22 PM A A A firefighter hoses flames at the scene of a Sunday night fire that damaged the It’s a Burl wood business in Kerby. Photo courtesy of Illinois Valley Fire District The It’s a Burl Gallery in Kerby suffered a major fire Sunday night that completely destroyed a workshop, firefighters said. The quirky roadside attraction along Highway 199 to the Oregon Coast specializes in wood crafts from wine stoppers to dining room sets. The business also supplies wood to other artisans. When firefighters first arrived on scene, they found one building already fully involved. The fire was quickly brought under control despite its large size. Mop-up operations were extensive, firefighters said. No injuries were reported. Highway 199 was closed down to one lane with traffic control on scene during the incident. After the blaze was extinguished, firefighters and the property owner kept watch to make sure no new fires flared up. The It’s a Burl business gets its name from wood burls — knobby, bulbous growths that sometimes form on trees. The interiors of burls often have unusual grain patterns prized by woodworkers for their beauty. Illinois Valley Fire District, American Medical Response, Rural Metro Fire - Josephine County, the Oregon Department of Transportation, the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Police responded to the scene.