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Thousands in the Line of Fire in SW Oregon
KGW TV/AP ^ | 31 July 2002 | Jeff Barnard

Posted on 07/31/2002 8:14:18 AM PDT by 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


TOPICS: Breaking News
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To: HELLRAISER II
The "level of craziness" of these people astounds me.

Think of all the animals and birds killed by this- some panic and run/fly right into the fire. Whereas a logger with a chainsaw, the beastie will just move away from, and come back when he's gone.

81 posted on 07/31/2002 1:47:03 PM PDT by backhoe
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To: Grampa Dave
I think the latter is true (precautionary clearing of the raodway for evacuation.

EBUCK

82 posted on 07/31/2002 1:55:17 PM PDT by EBUCK
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To: EBUCK
It would make sense to close it just in case there is an emergency evacuation.

That way it could become one way south bound. That would enable the road to carry twice as many vehicles southbound and at a higher rate of speed in many areas.
83 posted on 07/31/2002 2:05:34 PM PDT by Grampa Dave
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To: Grampa Dave
May we send our local whacos too? We have a lot of them with romantic names like SUWA, the Grand Canyon Trust, the Park Service, Fish and Wildlife, BLM, the Forest Service and numerous similar groups. They could do with some firefighting experience and I like your suggestions, although they do seem a bit on the merciful side...
84 posted on 07/31/2002 2:08:37 PM PDT by Paulus Invictus
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To: Grampa Dave
Highway 199 is closed on the west side from Jed Smith park to the Oregon border. Should still be open to the east for evacuation of the folks in the Illinois Valley area. Here's another from the Curry Coastal Pilot: LATEST FIRE INFORMATION, 5 P.M. TUESDAY Published: July 30, 2002 See related web site link(s) at the end of the story: Dear readers, As the newsroom prepares Wednesday's full report for the Curry Coastal Pilot, here's the latest official reports on the massive fires burning to the east of us: Heavy emphasis is being placed on fighting the Shelly Creek Fire, which has forced the evacuation of Patrick Creek Lodge, Patrick Creek Campground, several residences, Bar-O Boys Ranch and the closure of Highway 199 from Jed Smith State Park to the Oregon-California border. The 200-acre fire is located northwest of the lodge Crews are working around the clock and hope to contain the fire by Friday, Aug. 3. Once contained, officials expect it to run about 1.25 miles along the north side of Highway 199 northeast of Patrick Creek Lodge. The highway may be re-opened at that time, if conditions are safe. On the two larger fires, Florence Fire southeast of Agness and Sour Biscuit Fire northwest of Cave Junction, officials are trying to join the fires to make them safer to fight. Overall, they would stretch 30 miles north and south through the Klamath Mountains. Favorable weather conditions have kept them from spreading as far as officials had feared on Monday. The Florence Fire to the north has progressed toward Oak Flat and jumped the Illinois River. Confirmed fire locations are in Sections 8, 18, 24 of Township 36S, Range 11W. In Southern Curry County, the Sour Biscuit Fire has broken out of the Kalmiopsis Wilderness Area and moved west into private lands. Fire is confirmed near Red Mountain and Vulcan Peak, in Sections 14 and 15 of Township 39S Range 11W. Still, there is little or no containment of the fires reported at this time. Residents of the Illinois Valley with elderly, children or disabled residents are being asked to consider voluntary evacuation. A community meeting is planned in Cave Junction tonight to brief residents on the situation. The latest official reports are being posted at www.fs.fed.us/r6/siskiyou -- then click on Biscuit Complex. The latest weather and road conditions are always available through the Curry Coastal Pilot's Web site at www.currypilot.com. For our full report pick up your Wednesday edition of the Curry Coastal Pilot. Charles Kocher Publisher PS: More than 1,000 readers receive The Pilot's free News Alerts by e-mail. To add or remove your name from the list, please respond to mail@currypilot.com Related Web Site(s): Official Fire Reports: Click Here Latest Vicinity Map: Click Here
85 posted on 07/31/2002 2:10:31 PM PDT by Granof8
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To: Grampa Dave; Carry_Okie; All
You must start hearing this radio program. You can get it on the net www.larslarson.com. He's out of portland, covers the NW. Right now and all week(noon to 4:00pm pacific) he has as guest ONRC and some tree sitter...I'm so mad I'm smokin'! Opps, guess that's just the forests burning down!

We are not really hearing much more than what you are getting, until the 5pm local news and I'll let you know if there's any news you haven't gotten. The Lars Larson show is the best place for updates, they have a reporter from the Selma area checking in.

86 posted on 07/31/2002 2:23:03 PM PDT by AuntB
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To: Paulus Invictus
May we send our local whacos too? We have a lot of them with romantic names like SUWA

couldn't we air drop the SUWA guys... say from 30,000 feet...

87 posted on 07/31/2002 2:24:32 PM PDT by glock rocks
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To: Paulus Invictus
That was the question Lars Larson just ask a tree sitter...how many of you are fighting fires??? His answer, finally after all the canned jibberish, was NONE. Let it burn....it's natural don't ya know! You can catch these conversations at www.larslarson.com...the eco freaks are on live.
88 posted on 07/31/2002 2:34:11 PM PDT by AuntB
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To: Grampa Dave
That's what I was thinking. Sounds like a smart move.

EBUCK

89 posted on 07/31/2002 2:41:25 PM PDT by EBUCK
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To: Grampa Dave
I like it!

The smoke is really awful today. Last night the wind blew and it cleared up for a while, which is worse, because you know that fire has turned and is burning rich in a new direction. Selma, in the Illinois valley, about 35 miles from me is where we had the big rally in Jan, 2001 chasing after Bruce Babbitt. This is the area he wanted extended wildnerness over millions more acres and got some of it through.

90 posted on 07/31/2002 2:42:42 PM PDT by AuntB
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To: Paulus Invictus
Some we could use the SEAL teams HALO drops. That is where they get thrown out of a plane over 20K feet and free fall until they are right over the target and then pull the rip cord.

I think that Utah, Arizona and New Mexico with some of the radical forest guardian groups have some of the worst eco terrorists around.
91 posted on 07/31/2002 2:48:31 PM PDT by Grampa Dave
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To: Granof8
Heavy emphasis is being placed on fighting the Shelly Creek Fire, which has forced the evacuation of Patrick Creek Lodge,

So sad. I stopped there for lunch every time I drove up to Grant's Pass from San Francisco, and stayed overnight too. Charming old place, excellent food. I hope they can save the place. The entire area is very special, and home to many retirees who enjoy living and fishing in the wilderness. Had some great barside chats with the locals, hope they are all surviving with their homes intact. Even if they do, their property will be worth zilch. Loss of the wonderful redwoods there is heartbreaking.

92 posted on 07/31/2002 2:52:43 PM PDT by PoisedWoman
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To: AuntB
Thanks, I'm now listening to Lars Larson:

Here is the link that all Freepers can use: (link to listen to Lars Larson on our computers)

93 posted on 07/31/2002 2:58:04 PM PDT by Grampa Dave
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To: Granof8
Thanks for the feedback.

I may have to sign back up for the Curry Pilot emergency bulletins during this time period.
94 posted on 07/31/2002 3:02:40 PM PDT by Grampa Dave
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All, here is the weather for the Kalmiopsis Wilderness Area: (Kalmiopsis Weather Link)

The high winds with gusts up to 50 mph are not what you would want in trying to control a fire. Also if if the winds come from the north, the Florence fire could be blown south to merge with the Biscuit Fire. (Kalmiopsis Weather Link)

95 posted on 07/31/2002 3:24:46 PM PDT by Grampa Dave
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To: EBUCK
"No need for nightmares...I'm under 30 and still invincible!!!"

LOL...I am back, over 30, and have gained "healthy respect".

I checked...I can say this....without causing panic, because it's been done, and most people don't listen...

But if you are sitting in an emergency shelter, waiting for an evacuation order, and if you have a place to go and the means to get there....

GO.

NOW.

Period.

Your evacuation may save not only your own life, but will lower the number of evacuees left to be transported, so you are actually helping us.

96 posted on 07/31/2002 3:32:35 PM PDT by cake_crumb
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To: Grampa Dave
"According to the Curry Pilot, 199 is closed due to fires in California. If that is true, how are those people in the Illinois River are supposed to evacuate if they are ordered out."

They evacuate NORTH..... SOUTH 199 is closed to to the fires. I can't BELIEVE the publications didn't specify that.

North is clear so far...199 North to Grant's Pass. Time for a long weekend visiting friends and/or relatives for anyone who lives South of the fireline.

97 posted on 07/31/2002 3:39:31 PM PDT by cake_crumb
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To: Grampa Dave
Have you told Simon how you feel??...so that he has a stronger platform upon which to stand, I mean?
98 posted on 07/31/2002 4:06:15 PM PDT by cake_crumb
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To: All; AuntB; EBUCK
This is how the real forest service fights fires. Unlike the Bruce Babbitt/Clintoonian Pink Panty wearing maggots who think they are in the Florist Service to please Andy Kerr and eco fascists. Those maggots just stand around and watch things burn!


99 posted on 07/31/2002 4:10:50 PM PDT by Grampa Dave
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To: Grampa Dave
Stop the attacks by the bureaucrats and wacko, extreme left-wing, enviro-nazis terrorist's on our Freedoms !!

Freedom Is Worth Fighting For !!

Molon Labe !!

100 posted on 07/31/2002 4:26:17 PM PDT by blackie
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