Photo courtesy Jefferson Fire District

JEFFERSON, Ore. - Smoke billowed over the rolling hills Monday afternoon in this Marion County town, sandwiched between Salem and Albany, of 2,500 people.

It was a barn burning that could - and should - have been avoided.

Jefferson Firefighters were called to the barn fire just before 3 p.m. The barn, off of Southeast Steiwer Road north of Jefferson, was completely destroyed.

An illegal backyard burn located too close to the barn went out of control when the property owner went inside for a few minutes. The property owner, Garold Jenkins, returned outside to find 25 percent of the barn in flames. He attempted to extinguish the fire while his wife called 9-1-1.

The house, located nearby, was not damaged. Firefighters from Turner also responded. No injuries were reported.

Backyard Burn Season does not begin until Oct. 15 in the Jefferson area. Burn bans also currently exist in other areas throughout Oregon and Washington.

Meanwhile, "when burning yard debris," said a Jefferson Rural Fire Protection District spokesperson, "never leave the fire unattended and have a water source nearby."