A fire destroyed two unoccupied homes early Tuesday, Oct. 31 along Eagle Creek about 4 miles north of Richland.

The fire was reported about 1:27 a.m. at 43644 Eagle Creek Road, according to the Baker County Dispatch Center.

Dave Kingsbury, chief of the Eagle Valley Fire District, said one home was “fully involved” when he arrived, and the second home was about three-quarters involved.

Neither structure could be saved, Kingsbury said.

Seven volunteers from the Eagle Valley district responded, along with three from Keating and two from Pine Valley, Kingsbury said.

The firefighters focused on protecting a garage, hay shed and other structures. None was damaged, he said.

The fire did spread to a tractor, which was destroyed.

The property is owned by Eric and Stephanie Johnson, according to Baker County Assessor’s Office records.

Kingsbury said the Johnsons live about a mile from the property where the two homes burned.

Kingsbury said a neighbor reported the fire. He said he was just leaving the fire station when Eric Johnson called to also report the blaze. Johnson unlocked a gate to give firefighters access to the property, Kingsbury said.

The cause of the fire hasn’t been determined, Kingsbury said.

He said Johnson told him the homes were insured.

According to assessor’s office records, both homes are about 1,100 square feet. One was built in 1904, the other in 1910. Combined the homes had a market value of $208,000.