Thousands in the Line of Fire in SW Oregon

KGW TV/AP ^ | 31 July 2002 | Jeff Barnard

[Grampa Dave]

Thousands in the Line of Fire in SW Oregon 07/31/2002

By JEFF BARNARD, Associated Press Writer

Officials say there is just one main route out of the fire zone in southern Oregon's Illinois Valley -- U-S 199 South -- along with three back roads. Josephine County sheriff's deputies say signs pointing out evacuation routes will go up today.

The Florence Fire has burned about 145-thousand acres and the Sour Biscuit fire stands at about 35-thousand acres. They two fires remain about three to four miles apart, but together they form a 30-mile long front of fire threatening the communities of O'Brien, Cave Junction, Selma and Kerby.

Smoke from the Florence wildfire burning near Selma, Ore., raises into the sky over Grants Pass. (AP Photo)

Seventeen thousand residents of the area have been put on 30-minute evacuation notice.

Bulldozers have cut a last-ditch line of defense for the Illinois Valley, but officials have told residents it may not hold, and they should be ready to leave if they hear an evacuation notice on the radio.

"I need to be honest with you and say there is a chance the fire will be in the Illinois Valley," said Greg Gilpin of the Oregon Department of Forestry, evacuation coordinator on the fire.

"We are looking at the fire at this time as uncontrollable."

Cliff Loncosky, left, and his wife, Rebecca, pack belongings into a pick-up as they assist his father prepare for a possible evacuation from his home along Highway 199, near Cave Junction. (AP Photo)

About 200 people sat in the stifling heat of the Illinois Valley High School gym to hear the bad news, but many shared Heon's view.

One who didn't was Maggie Connery, whose husband is one of 1,200 firefighters on the Florence Fire. Holding her 2 1/2-year-old son, Connery said she was taking her children to nearby Grants Pass to stay with family.

Maps posted outside the gym showed they are still four miles from running into each other but together form a 30-mile long front of fire threatening the communities of O'Brien, Cave Junction, Selma and Kerby.

Incident commander Mike Lohrey of the U.S. Forest Service said bulldozers have dug fire lines connecting a network of Siskiyou National Forest roads to create a last-line of defense between the eastern front of the fire and the communities along U.S. Highway 199.

Faye Withers, right, comforts Ashley and Isaac Withers as Amanda Withers, sitting, and Isaiah Williams, held by his mother, Sharon, left, listen to fire officers during a town meeting at the high school in Cave Junction. (AP Photo)

Waiting for the right conditions, firefighters were to begin burning out brush and timber in the three-mile-wide space between the bulldozer line and the fire.

The burning operation was expected to take the next three days if all goes well. "We're waiting for those conditions when you feel a light wind on the back of your neck so the flames are sucked into the fire," Lohrey said.

Meanwhile bulldozers began building a similar line on the north end of the fire to protect the community of Agness, a hub of whitewater rafting on the Rogue River.

Some residents expressed frustration that the fires were not stopped two weeks ago after the original lightning strikes. But Gilpin explained that firefighting resources around the nation are stretched to the limit.

A helicopter drops water unto a burning wildfire on the Siskyou Forest north of Selma, Ore., near the California border. (AP Photo)

Meanwhile 110 structural firefighters continued going house to house plotting their locations by Global Positioning System and assessing whether the homes can be defended if the fire hits.

"If we can improve the defense ability with minor modification we will do that," said Tim Birr, spokesman for the Oregon Fire Marshal's Office.

"We will do a little weed-whacking but we will not take down a tree in your yard," he said.

One primary escape route, U.S. Highway 199 south to the coast, remained closed by another fire in California; however, U.S. Highway 199 north to Grants Pass and three different back roads remained open, said Josephine County sheriff's Lt. Lee Harman.

Signs pointing out evacuation routes will go up Wednesday, he said.

Weather forecaster Jim Harrison said there was no rain in sight but northwest winds should continue for the next couple of days which would tend to push the fire toward the bulldozer line.

Three homes have already been lost to the Florence Fire.

Chevron gas station owner Jeff Stiles said quite a few people left the valley Monday, but those who remain seem calm. "This is a survivalist area," he said. "There are a lot of people who want to make a last stand at their own property. The people who stayed are a tough breed."

The crossroads animal hospital sold out of pet carriers and nearly ran out of sedatives for dogs and cats, said Sue Fiske.

The Josephine County Sheriff's Posse has been helping people round up livestock to transport to safer ground, and veterinarians and kennels in Grants Pass 30 miles away, are offering refuge for pets.

"It's amazing how many people can't find their leashes and collars for their pets and are coming in for new ones," said Fiske. "You really know what people are made of when you get hit by something like this. I think a lot of people are really compassionate."

One of the animals evacuated was a 40-year-old horse named Tye, which was ridden by John Wayne in the movie "Rooster Cogburn," said Gary Brummett, owner of the Deer Creek Ranch outside of Selma.

At the local senior center, Floyd Watkins shot pool with Rusty Fox and said quite a few older residents have left the area because of problems breathing the smoke, but most have stayed, hoping for the best.

Wildfires at a Glance

Major wildfires were burning on more than 350,000 acres in Oregon on Tuesday.

About 12,115 firefighters are working in the state. The Northwest Interagency Communication Center is tracking at least 14 major fires in Oregon. Top priorities for fire officials were the Florence fire, the Timbered Rock fire, the Cache Mountain fire and the Sour Biscuit fire.

LUCKY FIRE

Started: 7/29/02, 10 p.m. six miles south of Detroit.

Size:60 acres

Containment: 10 percent

Evacuations: None.

Damages: None yet. In heavy timber.

On scene: 120 firefighters.

Cause: Lightning

SKUNK FIRE:

Started: 7/24/2002, Klamath County, north of Sprague River.

Size: 2,544 acres

Evacuations: Moccasin Hill and Klamath Forest Estates subdivision orders have been lifted as of July 29, 2002.

Damage: one outbuilding destroyed.

Containment: 80 percent containment.

On scene: 441 firefighters.

Cause: Lightning strikes.

CACHE MOUNTAIN:

Started: 7/24/02, 15 miles northwest of Sisters, Oregon

Size: 3,700 acres.

Containment: 85 percent.

Evacuations: About 1300 homes evacuated. Evacuation order remains in place. Highway 20 reopened.

Damage: Two homes destroyed.

On scene: 459 firefighters.

Cause: Lightning.

SHELDON RIDGE:

Started: 7/24/02, 3 miles southwest of The Dalles.

Size: 12,761 acres

Containment: 80 percent

Evacuations: Voluntary evacuation cancelled.

Damage: Eight outbuildings destroyed, one home damaged.

On scene: 660 total personnel.

Cause: Lightning.

WINTER-TOOLBOX FIRES

Started: in Lake County 07/12/02 and merged 7/20/02.

Size: 86,794 (Toolbox) 35,525 (Winter)

Containment: 65 percent (Toolbox); 90 percent (Winter)

Evacuations: Voluntary evacuations of 85 homes.

Damage: None reported.

On scene: 2479 (both fires combined)

Cause: Lightning.

MALHEUR-FLAGTAIL COMPLEX

Started: 8-25 miles from Prairie City, 07/12/02.

Size: 24,200 acres.

Containment: 30 percent.

Evacuations: No mandatory evacuation, but 52 residences and 13 commercial properties and 196 outbuildings are threatened. A historic home, Austin House, is 4 miles from the fire.

Damage: None.

On scene: 1,752 firefighters

Cause: Lightning

TILLER COMPLEX

Started: Outside Tiller, east of Canyonville off Interstate 5, 07/12/02.

Size: 18,655 acres.

Containment: 25 percent

Evacuations: South Umpqua Road closed at milepost 6. Fifteen residence threatened. Tribal ceremonial grounds and critical cultural resources are threatened.

Damage: No listed damage.

On scene: 1,359 firefighters

Cause: Lightning.

NORTH UMPQUA COMPLEX

Started: 25 miles east of Glide, 07/12/02.

Size: 1,749 acres.

Containment: 80 percent.

Evacuations: 20 residences threatened, one business and 10 outbuildings. Historical resources, cultural sites threatened.

Damage: None.

On Scene: 610 firefighters.

Cause: Lightning.

MONUMENT FIRE

Started: 9 miles southwest of Unity, 07/12/02

Size: 24,435 acres

Containment: 80 percent.

Evacuations: None at this time.

Damage:None.

On Scene: 1,233 firefighters, military battalion from Topeka, Kansas in place.

Cause: Lightning.

747/MURRAY COMPLEX

Started: Northeast of Paulina in Black Canyon Wilderness, 07/13/22.

Size: 17,266 acres

Containment: 80 percent.

Evacuations: No evacuations; Four homes and eight outbuildings threatened.

Damage: Road closures.

On scene: 653 firefighters.

Cause: Lightning.

FLORENCE FIRE

Started: 26 miles west of Grant Pass, 07/13/02.

Size: 145,000 acres.

Containment: 5 percent.

Evacuations: The entire Illinois Valley on notice to evacuate.

Damage: 3 residences and 8 outbuildings.

On scene: 988 firefighters.

Cause: Lightning.

SOUR BISCUIT FIRE

Started: 17 miles southwest of Cave Junction

Size: 35,000 acres. (source: Florence fire camp)

Containment: zero percent containment

Evacuations: None yet.

Damage: no

On scene:373

Cause: lightning

TIMBERED ROCK FIRE

Started: Unknown. 20 miles north of Medford.

Size: 13,450 acres

Containment: 20 percent

Evacuations: Elk Creek Road is closed except to fire vehicles. Evacuation area for all addresses along Elk Creek Road, 143 homes, is still in effect. No homes were immediately threatened by yesterday's fire activity and no homes have been lost. July 30.

Damage: None

On Scene: 988 firefighters

Cause: lightning

Source: The Northwest Interagency Coordination Center

[Grampa Dave]

Unfortunately, a very large percentage of Oregonians in Portland, Eugene, Ashland, Salem and the University cities worship these eco terrorists. Their governor has kept any real police work from putting those living in Eugene and Portland and burning from there into jail.

If a survey was held in these cities right now with the present fire damage and potential damage, the Green Mushheads would out number those against the Green Agendas.

However, being the guy who never gives up the battle with these eco terrorist thugs, here is that link again: (Stop Eco Violence)

[Grampa Dave]

Timber Sale Ends in Two Arrests
07/31/2002

Associated Press


There was pepper spray and two arrests yesterday but a Stayton logging company was the apparent high bidder for the rights to log about 160 acres on the Mount Hood National Forest.


Pro-forest activists told the Thomas Creek Lumber and Log Company they will fight any attempt to log the Solo timber sale.


The Cascadia Forest Alliance says it has already put anti-logging activists in a tree-sit platform in a 400-year-old Douglas fir in the Solo site.


Yesterday's protest began when activists gathered in Sandy where the auction was held.


When Thomas Creek President Brent Walker went to his car, police say protesters blocked his path.


Someone threw a bottle that hit one officer while a protester aimed a can of pepper spray at police.


Clackamas County deputies then sprayed the crowd with pepper spray. Two protesters were cited for disorderly conduct.

---

Time to clear the Oregon/USA of these violent eco terrorists~~!

With all of the fires in Oregon now due to these Green Scumbags, they still would prefer a tree to burn than be logged and used.

There is no room in a productive society for these criminally insane whackos to be wandering around committing acts of violence.

Their arrogance while Oregon is burning shows the complete break with reality and zero compassion for their fellow Oregonians. Round them up! Lock them up and throw away the keys. Or put them to work to pay for their cost to society by working on chain gangs. Let unemployed loggers and those burnt out get paid to watch them with riot guns loaded with rock salt and permission to "Salt Away" whenever!

[glock rocks]

What is a WFU fire?

a WFU is a Wildland Use Fire, and appears to be a natural "good" fire... from www.fs.fed.us

• Wildfire is any fire, either natural or human caused that is burning and causing an unacceptable level of risk or threatens lives or property. These fires are actively suppressed by firefighters.

• Prescribed fire is planned and management ignited to achieve site-specific objectives under prescribed weather conditions. These fires are used to reduce fuel buildups and improve wildlife habitat among other things.

• Wildland Fire Use is a lightning caused fire managed for resource benefits as outlined in approved fire management plans.

[EBUCK]

Thanks Glock Rocks!

EBUCK

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks!

How about posting on these threads what's happening Redford, USA, the former State of Utah re Redford fires.

[HELLRAISER II]

It's amazing that these eco-whaco's would let humans die before letting someone burn the underbrush.

[Grampa Dave]

Here is the latest fire map from the Siskiyou Forestry Service, Gold Beach, Oregon.

Tubebender it looks like the Florist Service part of the Forestry Service has not been telling us the size of the Biscuit Fire in California!

[cake_crumb]

"From this report it does not appear that the two fires have merged."

Well, no, it doesn't appear that way, after all...yet. I don't like those containment numbers for the Florence, Sour Biscuit and Timber Rock fires. Doesn't look real good right now.

Still praying. Apparently not hard enough.

[glock rocks]

right now, the last three major wildfires in utah are in the 90% controlled stage, due to the efforts
of the heroes manning the lines and flying the drops, and the grace of the Lord above.

utah is a tinderbox, and only our current lack of lightning (and stupid people burning love letters) is keeping us from oregons fate.

the severe drought continues... stay tuned.

[EBUCK]

I bet our boys are kicking up some dust in that isthmus. If these two combine we'll just have to let them burn out on their own I'd imagine.

EBUCK

[Grampa Dave]

God helps those who help themselves, and prayer is helpful along the way.

I hope that those people don't wait too long to evacuate.

The latests map that I just posted shows that there are not many exits left to get out of there. There aren't many roads in and out in that area to begin with.

I keep get the feeling that for some reason, we are not being told the scope and size of the South Biscuit Fire in the Kali area.

197 south from Oregon to the Crescent City is the only real exit south for those people. If it gets closed again, there is no exit south.

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for the feedback. Redford, the former state of Utah has been Greenized into becoming a tinder box in most of the forest lands.

All that is needed is one of those inter mountain dry lightening storms with sky to ground or ground to sky lightening.

Stay safe!

[cake_crumb]

"What is an WFU fire? (lost green complex)"

You're not going to like this, in light of the present situation...a WFU stands for "WildFire Usage". In other words, a lightening strike caused a natural burn, and managers are allowing the fire to burn....but it is MOST LIKELY an attempt to allow what is probably a smaller amount of fuel to burn off, in an attempt to protect that patch from further damage later in the fire season.

That is pure conjecture on my part. Lack of resources (firefighters and equipment) comes to mind as a reason, too. Also, someone might feel that particular area isn't in quite as much danger of flaring to uncontrollable proportions, but like I said, I AM just guessing.

[glock rocks]

i just read in the deseret news that this july is the all time hottest month on record in salt lake, for average temps and peak temps. sure helps the drought. eek.

but not to worry, monsoon thunderstorms are predicted for this weekend, followed by another week in the 100's... sheesh!

...i wonder if redford is out bulldozing underbrush and overgrowth at sundance a la dashole.

[EBUCK]

There was another fire down near medford the was left to burn itself out to help contain the larger one (last I heard, it worked). I understand the logic behind reducing fuels, it's just a BurrIMA that we have to wait for a fire to accomplish the task.

EBUCK

[Grampa Dave]

Here is this mornings fire map from KATU TV:

[Grampa Dave]

Probably Da$$hole, Boxer, McAinal, Chi Fi Frankenstein, Kerry, Leaky Leahy and all of the Rat Enviral Senators have been out with chainsaws working to protect the Sundance Kids Resort.

You can bet that it has been managed so that fires won't take it down. Our tax $'s probably helped. If his place is the only forested area that doesn't burn down, he can make fortune next summer as well as in the winter.

[cake_crumb]

"I hope that those people don't wait too long to evacuate."

Me too...but I can tell you from experience that the bulk are ready and will evacuate in good order, but there might be a few who will be stupid...and the rescure crews will have to waste valuable time and resources, and will endanger their own lives, making sure either everyone is out or rescuing the idiots who waited too long.

[Grampa Dave]

Glock you need to buy some of Ebuck's anti enviral stickers to put on your vehicles and to hand out in dry Redford, the former state of Utah.

Ebuck time to post your stuff re your stickers and how to get them.

[EBUCK]

That can't be more than a few miles of separation can there?

EBUCK