Posted on 08/08/2002 7:55:09 AM PDT by Grampa Dave
Florence, Sour Biscuit Fires Merge 08/08/2002
By KGW and AP Staff
Shifting winds helped merge the Florence and Sour Biscuit Fires, creating a megafire that appeared to be heading back towards the southern Oregon hamlet of Agness.
The Florence and Sour Biscuit fires have burned more than 285,000 acres on the Siskiyou National Forest in southwestern Oregon and California since lightning struck July 13. Florence was 10 percent contained and Sour Biscuit 30 percent, authorities said.
The threat to the 17,000 residents of the Illinois Valley diminished as crews burned out the last of a 40-mile containment line protecting O'Brien, Cave Junction, Kerby and Selma and mop-up operations continued.
The fire roared around the Krauss cabin two weekends ago. Of the nine cabins in the path of the fire, four burned, along with eight outbuildings. The Krauss cabin survived.
"I guess its nice that the cabins were saved, but it's hard to be too happy about it when you see the forest itself," said Kathy Krauss, a retired English professor at Rogue Community College.
One neighbor's house looks like the fire came nowhere near it. Two others burned to the ground.
Krauss credited firefighters and her nephew Joey Krauss, who set out pumps and sprinklers to wet down the area, with saving their cabin.
Where Briggs Creek flows into the Illinois, a favorite family spot for fishing and hiking, the fire burned especially hot. Amazingly, the wooden bridge across the creek was charred in places, but not destroyed.
"There are places, pretty little gulches with a lot of Port Orford cedar, that are just as green and pretty as ever, with a little stream running down," said Krauss. "Other places are just totally obliterated. It really is true (the fire) just jumps."
Downstream about 25 miles, at another stretch of the Illinois also known as Oak Flat, the fire was within three miles of a cluster of homes, and within six miles of Agness, home to about 150 people and the end of the wild and scenic section of the Rogue River.
"It's hard for us to wait for the fire to come closer. But we all know it's the only thing we can do," said Willis Crouse, a carpenter, fishing guide and volunteer firefighter.
"Nobody is leaving," despite a warning to be ready to leave on 24 hours notice, Crouse said. "They are all individualists. They mostly built their own houses. People born here are pretty much planted here. They're not going to move an inch."
Elsewhere in Oregon, residents of about 65 homes in the Hemlock neighborhood of Westfir southeast of Eugene were alerted to be ready to evacuate if conditions worsen on a 40-acre fire burning in steep terrain nearby. Residents were there on two hour notice to evacuate. About 150 firefighters hoped to have it contained by Thursday evening.
Other fires burning in Oregon included:
-- Tiller Complex, 32,005 acres, Umpqua National Forest near Tiller, 25 percent contained.
-- Monument Fire, 24,378 acres, outside Unity, 95 percent contained.
-- Timbered Rock Fire, 27,090, outside Shady Cove, 90 percent contained.
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