Fires burning on more than 438,000 acres across Oregon

Oregon Live/AP ^ | 8/3/02 1:59 AM | AP Staff

[Grampa Dave]

Fires burning on more than 438,000 acres across Oregon

The Associated Press

Major wildfires have burned and are burning on more than 438,000 acres in Oregon on Friday. About 12,000 firefighters are working in the state. The Northwest Interagency Communication Center is tracking at least nine major fires in Oregon. Top priorities for fire officials were the 150,000-acre Florence fire, the 17,000-acre Timbered Rock fire, the 38,000-acre Sour Biscuit Fire, and the 26,850-acre Tiller Complex.

LUCKY FIRE

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

Size:87 acres

Containment: 70 percent

Evacuations: None.

Damages: None yet. In heavy timber.

On scene: 168 firefighters.

Cause: Lightning

CACHE MOUNTAIN:

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

Size: 4,200 acres.

Containment: 95 percent.

Evacuations: None at this time.

Damage: Two homes destroyed.

On scene: about 1,179 firefighters.

Cause: Lightning.

TOOLBOX FIRE

Started: in Lake County 07/12/02

Size: 86,794 acres

Containment: 75 percent

Evacuations: None at this time.

Damage: None reported.

On scene: 1,768

Cause: Lightning.

MALHEUR-FLAGTAIL COMPLEX

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

Size: 86,794 acres.

Containment: 75 percent.

Evacuations: No evacuation as of August 1.

Damage: None.

On scene: 1,768 firefighters

Cause: Lightning

TILLER COMPLEX

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

Size: 26,850 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: 1,051 firefighters

Cause: Lightning.

MONUMENT FIRE

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

Size: 24,378 acres

Containment: 75 percent.

Evacuations: None at this time.

Damage:None.

On Scene: 1,154 firefighters.

Cause: Lightning.

FLORENCE FIRE

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

Size: 150,000 acres.

Containment: 5 percent.

Evacuations: The entire Illinois Valley on notice to evacuate.

Damage: 3 residences and 8 outbuildings.

On scene: 1,546 firefighters.

Cause: Lightning.

SOUR BISCUIT FIRE

Started: 17 miles southwest of Cave Junction

Size: 33,287 acres.

Containment: 0 percent containment

Evacuations: None yet.

Damage: no

On scene: 436.

Cause: lightning

TIMBERED ROCK FIRE

Started: Unknown. 20 miles north of Medford.

Size: 16,925 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. August 1.

Damage: None

On Scene: 1,163 firefighters

Cause: lightning

----

Source: The Northwest Interagency Coordination Center

[Grampa Dave]

Wanted these al Qaeda Tree Huggers for contributing to uncontrollable forest fires in Oregon!

I stole that phrase al Qaeda Tree Huggers from our own Archie Bunker on Steroids. Who, when all of this is over, will probably hate these Oregon al Qaeda Tree Huggers even more than you and I do.

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for the kind words.

Maybe this should be the way we refer to these clymers associated with the Oregone fires:

Oregon's al Qaeda Tree Huggers

[Grampa Dave]

Their agenda is now more dangerous to Oregonians living around their Druid Cathedrals than the al Qaeda thugs.

A CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER: THE OREGON AL QAEDA TREE HUGGERS!

[Grampa Dave]

The failure of the state of Oregon/Kali NOAA fire map to appear in that reply of mine, is one of those great mysteries of Free Republic.

It seems like whenever John Rob is tweaking the server with new programming, it gets slow and parts of posts get lost or we have double posts.

So this is one time that we can't blame the whackos in our government. (I think!)

[blackie]

Tree Hugger's should be stapled to the trees and left there to become one with the tree...or ash in the case of fire... :o)

Molon Labe !!

[ward_of_the_state]

Nevermind! I saw the maps! I type faster than I read.

[Grampa Dave]

Eureka Times-Standard

Gasquet fire still burning
By John Driscoll The Times-Standard


Saturday, August 03, 2002 -

GASQUET -- A fire in Del Norte County grew slightly overnight, creeping slowly toward homes in the Low Divide area north of this little town.

The fire is still more than a mile away from those homes, 30 of which have been evacuated since earlier this week.

"We're not seeing rapid growth, but the potential is there," said Terry Knupp, spokeswoman for the U.S. Forest Service.

Firefighters have carved a line around the fire, which has now burned about 21,500 acres on the Smith River National Recreation Area, but the Forest Service reports it is only 5 percent contained.

"It's tough and we're having a hard time getting people in there," Knupp said.

The difficult terrain took its toll Thursday evening when one firefighter slipped and fell 100 feet down a hill. Del Norte County Search and Rescue responded, but the tough country did not allow for his immediate rescue, so EMTs stayed with him in the woods overnight. In the morning when visibility improved, he was airlifted by a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter to Sutter Coast Hospital in Crescent City. He is reported to be in good condition.

Firefighters now have a grasp on another fire farther up U.S. Highway 199 which still has the road into Oregon closed. The 850-acre Shelly Creek Fire is 95 percent contained. Rock and burning debris still litter the roadway.

The hundreds of firefighters fighting the Shelly Creek Fire will move to battle the Sour Biscuit fire as they are released from the smaller blaze.

The extreme fire danger has prompted Six Rivers National Forest to initiate fire restrictions effective Friday.

Campfires will only be allowed in designated safe zones. Smoking is limited to inside vehicles, buildings or designated recreation sites. Internal combustion engines are allowed only on forest roads. Welding and use of explosives is prohibited.

With a valid California campfire permit, the use of lanterns and portable stoves is allowed outside the safe zones.

Call local ranger districts to find out where campfire permits are or aren't needed.

The Stanza Fire outside of Happy Camp is fully contained after burning 2,880 acres. Crews are now mopping up and rehabilitating areas torn up by fire lines.

---

"Firefighters have carved a line around the fire, which has now burned about 21,500 acres on the Smith River National Recreation Area, but the Forest Service reports it is only 5 percent contained."


Anybody want to venture a guess re how much logging and preventative brush removal has happened in this area the past 10 years?

---

"The difficult terrain took its toll Thursday evening when one firefighter slipped and fell 100 feet down a hill. Del Norte County Search and Rescue responded, but the tough country did not allow for his immediate rescue, so EMTs stayed with him in the woods overnight. In the morning when visibility improved, he was airlifted by a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter to Sutter Coast Hospital in Crescent City. He is reported to be in good condition."

Probably another thank you to the al Qaeda Tree Huggers for enabling this fire to burn so badly and imperil this fire fighter is personally overdue.

[Grampa Dave]

How about wrapping steel cables with the hemp that they and Andy Kerr want to grow in our forests.

Then wrap the nice hemp with steel cables around the al Qaeda Tree Huggers to really enable them to hug a tree while one of their rural cleansing fires comes to cleanse them.

[madfly]

Enviro Thread:

Hold tight the reins:
Henry Lamb calls on citizens
to bring enviro-extremism under control
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/726970/posts?page=1

[SAMWolf]

Thanks for the Ping.

[who knows what evil?]

So this is one time that we can't blame the whackos in our government. (I think!)

I don't think this is a 'John Rob' problem...the map clearly displays the state of Oregon, but whoever labelled the map (NOAA, I would think) has Oregon designated as 'Washington'. Washington is to the NORTH of the satellite image displayed.

[blackie]

Sounds good to me !!

Later...I'm gonna work on the deck for a while... :o)

[Grampa Dave]

Hey Sam, I understand that this young lady is working your neighborhood for $'s for the al Qaeda Eco Nazis:

I guess that donations to Club Sierra and the ONRC enviralist groups have been way down the past few weeks in Oregon.

Give until it hurts an al Qaeda Eco Nazi!

[AuntB]

Gramps!!! Oh, Good and sweet, Gramps! I still can't make a link...will you link the helicopter article to this one??

[Salvation]

Now over 462,000 acres

Today's summary is already updated -- and it's Saturday!

Fire Information Summary
Oregon Fire Information
Unit	Fire Name	Agency	Location	Acres	Crw-1	Crw-2	Engs.	Hel-1	Hel-2	Hel-3	Team	People	Injuries	% Contained	Cause	Remarks
OR-MAF	Flagtail-Malheur Complex	USFS	8 to 25 miles from Prairie City, OR	27,000	2	32	54	4	4	3	Type 1	1,143		98%	Lightning	Fire behavior included numerous trees, dead and down burning and/or torching. A few slopovers occurred in the southeastern corner of the fire, into an old burn area. Crews are making significant progress with mop-up on all fires.(1800, 8/02)
OR-UPF	Tiller Complex	USFS	Tiller R.D.	28,377		36	49	1	1	1	Type 2	1,155		25%	Lightning	Light morning inversion lifted over the complex approximately 1400; fire behavior increased around 1600. Anticipated fire growth will continue on all staffed and un-staffed fires.  Isolated torching occurred with short crown fire runs developing upslope with increased winds.(1800, 8/02)
OR-MAF	Monument	USFS	9 miles SW of Unity, OR	24,378		2	20	1	1	1	Type 2	202		90%	Lightning	Interior continues to burnout. Rehabilitation of existing hand and dozer line is ongoing. Patrolling all divisions. Mop-up 300 to 500 feet in from perimeter.(1800, 8/02)
OR-FRF	Tool Box Complex	USFS	10 miles S of Silver Lake, OR	120,085	4	46	134	2	2	1	Type 1	2,293		85%	Lightning	The Tool Box Complex includes the Tool Box, Silver, Winter and Lava Fires. Acreages: Tool Box  59,937, Silver  24,574, Winter  34,221, Lava  1,353. Significant acreage and committed resources increase due to inclusion of Winter Fire in complex. Crews made good progress securing control lines and mopping up on the Tool Box, Silver and Winter Fires. The Lava Fire remained in patrol status. Rehabilitation continues. Hefner's Type 1 IMT assumed command of the complex at 0600 today.  (1800, 8/02)
OR-SIF	Florence	USFS	26 miles west of Grants Pass, 17 miles southwest of Cave Junction	188,000	7	46	62	4	5	2	Type 1	1,753		5%	Lightning	Inversion persisted until 1500. Mostly backing, with minor uphill runs. Fire backing off ridges. Runs up opposing slopes on north end and interior are likely. The fire has spread to within about four miles of Game Lake on the west flank, to Silver Peak and within four miles of Agness on the north flank, to within seven miles of Selma and Cave Junction on the east flank, and to Chetco Peak on the south flank. Oregon Governor's Declaration of emergency for Josephine and Jackson Counties. The entire Illinois River Valley is under a 24- or 48-hour evacuation advisory. .(1800, 8/02)
OR-SIF	Sour Biscuit	USFS	17 Miles SW of Cave Junction	40,002	9	26	22	2	1		Type 1 Type 2	1,016		12%	Lightning	The fire continued creeping in most directions, and displayed active fire behavior. Perimeter growth may occur in any direction where upslope fuels occur. Most growth is expected to the north and east, dependent on prevailing winds. Some potential for spotting dependent on local topography and winds. (1800, 8/02)
OR-UPF	North Umpqua Complex	USFS	25 Miles east of Glide near town of Dry Creek	1,663	2	12	12	1	1	1	Type 2	463		100%	Lightning	Fire activity has reduced in Limpy and Johnson Butte Fire and was limited to burning in interior islands of fuels. Fire activity is mostly creeping fire in duff and in small pockets of fuels. Little or no fire activity in Calf 2 and Horse Prarie Fire.  (1800, 8/02)
OR-DEF	Cache Mtn.	USFS	15 miles NW of Sisters, OR	4200	1	29	43	1	1		Type2	934		100%	Lightning	Fire activity on the Cache Mt. Fire was minimal, consisting of smoldering heavy fuels. Isolated torching occurred in the interior. Significant mop up progress made in all divisions, supported by helicopters. Rehabilitation efforts on interior lines is continuing. (1800, 8/02)
OR-ORS	Sheldon Ridge	State	7 miles S of Moser	12,761		18	24	2	4	2	ODF	558		100%	Lightning	More active burning today due to lower humidities and wind exposure. Continued progress today in securing lines and starting mop up. Conflagration Declaration ended at 1200 today.(1800, 8/02)
OR-ORS	Timbered Rock	State	15 miles N of Shady Cove	24,700		48	38	9	3	4	ODF	1,145		30%	Lightning	Fire is expected to become active late in the day when inversion lifts. Some tor torching and spotting expected up to 2300 hrs. Residents on lower Elk Creek were allowed to return to their homes on 8/01. (1800, 8/02)
OR-WIF	Lucky	USFS	6 miles S of Detroit, OR	87		5		1	1		Type 2	207		100%	Lightning	Minor creeping and smoldering in interior pockets.  Fire contained 8/02. (1600, 8/02)
Oregon Totals				462,253	25	300	458	28	34	15		10,869
Washington Fires
Unit	Fire Name	Agency	Location	Acres	Crw-1	Crw-2	Engs.	Hel-1	Hel-2	Hel-3	Team	People	Injuries	%     Contained	Cause	Remarks
WA-WEF	Deer Point	USFS	27 miles N of Chelan	37,600	8	15	36	3	2	1	Type 2	934		60%	Unattended Camp Fire	Fire behavior included low intensity surface fire runs, with some torching in small trees. Continue to burn out contigency lines along the ridge between the Wenatchee and Okanogan National Forests. Continue to mop up and patrol all other divisions. (1800, 8/02)
Washington Totals				37,588	8	20	38	4	2	2		1,045
2-State totals				508,588	33	320	498	32	36	17		11,914

This site last updated:    08/03/02 12:48 AM  (NOTE: not every fire is updated each time the site is updated, but only as new information is received. Call the Information Desk with questions.)  This website is provided as assistance to media outlets requiring statistical information related to the wildland fires in the states of Oregon and Washington.  Active fire behavior, especially during period of increased wind conditions will cause increase burned acreage that may not reflect accurately " on the ground situation".  Please note that the data and situation reports are based on formal incident summaries and situations reported locally may not yet be included or has not been validated for this summary.  Evacuation questions should be directed to state or local Emergency Operation Centers (EOC) for verification. It is advised that media consult the data provided and then call the Information Desk for more specific, detailed information on the fire situation, It will be periodically updated by the Public Information staff at NWCC.  Specific information may be gained through calling the NWCC Information Desk at (503) 808-2764.

[AuntB]

It wasn't before my time, Archie and this is many times worse than any wood stoves burning. Even with the many sawmills with no restrictions for air quality back in the 50's .... this is still many times worse.

[Grampa Dave]

I understand that this clown was recently in the Portland neighborhood grubbing for $'s for the al Qaeda Eco Nazis running for office as Rat Politicians:

You poor Oregonians, first a visit by the Clown who enabled the al Qaeda Eco Nazis to set up these rural cleansing fires. Then the rural cleansing fires erupt.

[AuntB]

Thanks for the link, Grampa. I should have know you'd be on top of it. It's cooler this morning, but the smoke is very heavy. Kids around here seem to be all getting sick. I got a nice note from Rosemary Harrington thanking us all for getting this out.

[Grampa Dave]

Here is the link to your thread re the Pink Panty wearing Clintonian Florists interferring with the helicopter pilots fighting these fires: (link)

[Grampa Dave]

The Illinois Valley Fire, aka the Florence Fire and the Biscuit Fire before this is over may have a combined total of over 300,000 square acres.

This was one of the most beautiful spots on this earth not just Oregon. Now the al Qaeda Tree Hugging Terrorists, club sierra and the ONRC have made it into an ash heap.

Thanksf for your update.