The Oregon Road Fire began late in the afternoon on Aug. 18 and quickly grew out of control, tearing through houses and dried out trees at terrifying speed and forcing residents to evacuate. Within hours, thousands of acres had burned and hundreds of people displaced.
The rapid spread meant many were not prepared to leave quickly, with many in dire straits as they struggled to corral livestock or move loved ones with restricted mobility. In such a scary situation, it fell to the kindness of neighbors and strangers to offer help as they were able. This was especially true for Justin Knutsen, who both provided and received a vital helping hand when it mattered most.
It took less than 10 minutes between the time Knutsen and his wife saw the giant plume of smoke in the distance and when the first Level 3 evacuation notice chimed through on their phones.