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Here is the story from the Eureka Standard. If you spot something just give me reply or free mail, and I will try to post it.

Article Last Updated:
Wednesday, July 31, 2002 - 7:11:07 AM MST

Giant fire tearing up Del Norte County
By John Driscoll The Times-Standard

A huge wildfire that started in Oregon and burned into California this weekend has put residents in Gasquet and Hiouchi on evacuation alert and showered the Crescent City area with ash.

Nearly 16,000 acres have burned in California, and the blaze on the Oregon side of the border threatens power lines that serve 14,800 in Del Norte County. The Sour Biscuit fire had burned from the Major Moores area to within 4.5 miles of Gasquet on Tuesday, and progress toward containment of the fire was not known.

"If it weren't for the smoke, we could see it," said Judson Brohmer, owner of the Gasquet Market on U.S. Highway 199, which has been shut down by another smaller fire -- the Shelly Creek Fire -- only a few miles to the northwest.

The lightning-started fire burning in the Smith River National Recreation Area is part of a larger complex that totals 25,200 acres in California and Oregon and could join the 71,000-acre Florence Fire that has kept the entire Illinois Valley in southwestern Oregon on evacuation alert. That fire was sparked by lightning two weeks ago.

Rumors abound, as the fire initially handled by the U.S. Forest Service's Region 6 in Oregon was split into two fires with different authorities. The flow of information was such that news articles from various sources in the past two days didn't include information about the fire on the California side of the border, despite the acreage burned. The Forest Service's Region 5 is now handling the California portion of the blaze.

Jim Dodge, whose home is on the south side of the Smith River and is not immediately in danger, said that until Tuesday it was difficult to get reliable information. He also said that residents in the area have been calm and helpful.

"That's one of the great joys of living in a rural community to me," Dodge said.

The California Department of Forestry, the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs, the National Park Service, U.S. Bureau of Land Management and the Simpson Timber Co. are assisting the Forest Service and local fire crews on the fire.

Contrary to the rumors, Pacific Power and Light said that power outages are not imminent, but if firefighters requested the lines be shut down, they would be. The blaze threatens the lines on the Oregon side of the border, where the two lines are split. Only one is in danger so far, and power could be rerouted through the other line if the first is shut down.

The 200-acre Shelly Creek Fire, which started on Sunday, is only 3 miles from the Sour Biscuit Fire. The Shelly Creek Fire burned over Highway 199 Monday. It also forced the evacuation of Patrick Creek Lodge, Patrick Creek Campground, several residences and the Bar-O Boys Ranch for troubled youth.

The fire is only 30 percent contained, but the Forest Service hopes to have that fire contained by Saturday.

"That's just a hope as much as it is a prediction," said Matt Stephens, working in the fire information office in Gasquet, on Tuesday. Investigators have not determined how that fire was started.

Stephens said that local fire companies are working on protecting structures in the area while Forest Service firefighters are working in the backcountry fighting the blaze.

Del Norte County Supervisor Chuck Blackburn was disturbed at what he said was poor communication on the part of the Forest Service. Blackburn said he believes the fire was neglected when it crossed into California this weekend.

"I'm not a happy camper, and neither are the rest of us, with the lack of communication," Blackburn said. "We've had zilch up until a day ago."

Even the name of the Sour Biscuit Fire has proven slippery. It has been the Bisquit Fire, the Sourdough Fire and the Sourdough Biscuit Fire, even among official sources.

Shifting winds and difficult terrain have kept firefighters guessing, but winds are expected to die down some throughout the week. Ridge-top winds of 10 to 20 mph should die to 5 to 10 mph today. But nothing is certain.

"Even the direction of the wind is a little bit up in the air right now," said National Weather Service meteorologist Sten Tjaden.

There is a possibility that thunderstorms could move to the north this weekend, raising the possibility of lightning strikes in the area, which could spark fresh fires.

The Sour Biscuit Fire has burned much of the 28,000-acre North Fork Smith River Botanical Area, a place prized for its unique vegetation. Forest Service botanist Lisa Hoover said most of the rare plants in the area are associated with rocky soils or wetlands, and may not have been severely affected by the fire.

"I think the jury's still out," Hoover said.

Survey crews have not been able to get into the area to assess the potential damage, or benefit, of the fire. But Hoover suspects it probably burned in a mosaic.