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
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.
EBUCK
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.
couldn't we air drop the SUWA guys... say from 30,000 feet...
EBUCK
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.
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.
Here is the link that all Freepers can use: (link to listen to Lars Larson on our computers)
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)
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.
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.
Freedom Is Worth Fighting For !!
Molon Labe !!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.