IRRIGON, Ore. (AP) - A small number of people were evacuated from their homes near Irrigon after a fire at the Umatilla National Wildlife Refuge threatened them.
     
The Red Cross sheltered about a dozen people before residents went home about 4:30 a.m. Thursday.
     
Firefighters say they used water and then a counterfire to control the blaze. No injuries or personal property was reported lost. Wildlife habitat was damaged, though.
     
The East Oregonian reported that some residents took precautions for their houses - and then got together in a driveway with a cooler of beers to watch the fire.
     
Resident Doug Daniels says the neighbors have been pressing for a controlled burn to rid the area of fuel. He says they were glad to see the fire take care of that.

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