Strong winds fanned a Rouge River house fire that threatened nearby homes and ignited a half-acre brush fire last week.

Jackson County Fire District #1 firefighters found the Nugget Drive home well-involved and worked to protect exposure homes while they began operations on the original home.

A neighbor used a tractor to start making a fire break as the grass fire spread. The Oregon Department of Forestry dispatched resources, including a helicopter, to douse the grass fire that was sparked by the house fire.

Firefighters from Evans Valley Fire District, Grants Pass Fire, Fire District #3 and Rural Metro responded as the fire reached two alarms. 

The department said the adjacent homes suffered minor heat damage.