IRRIGON, Ore. — 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.