Oregon Firefighters get no help from the weather

Oregon Live/ AP ^ | 13 August 2002 | Jeff Barnard

[Grampa Dave]

Oregon Firefighters get no help from the weather By JEFF BARNARD The Associated Press 8/13/02 3:25 AM

GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) -- Dry east winds, low humidity and temperatures topping 100 degrees are giving firefighters all they can handle as the massive Biscuit Fire creeps toward several small towns.

The fire, Oregon's largest in more than a century, stood at 376,800 acres on the Siskiyou National Forest and adjoining lands in southwestern Oregon and northern California. It started July 13 from lightning that struck in the remote Kalmiopsis Wilderness.

"This week is an important week for the fire," said Susan Mathison, a Forest Service spokeswoman. "High temperatures, single-digit humidities, strong east winds -- all those contribute to an expectation of increased fire activity."

Said David Widmark, a spokesman for the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center: "The next 24 to 36 hours will be a big test for the Biscuit and the Tiller fires."

Widmark said the Biscuit Fire was moving slowly toward the small communities of Agness and Wilderness Retreat.

Firefighters on Monday did manage to get a line around a spot fire that threatened a major power line serving northern California.

"I don't think we'll have any reason to turn the power off and cause any problems down in Crescent City (Calif.)," said U.S. Forest Service spokesman Mike Ferris.

The spot fire had slopped over the main containment line on the southeastern flank, coming within a half-mile of two transmission lines serving 14,800 customers in Del Norte County, Calif., said Monte Mendenhall, regional community manager of Pacific Power.

Meanwhile, on the northeast flank of the fire, strong dry winds forced crews to withdraw from trying to light off a burnout operation to strengthen containment lines between Bear Camp Road and Indigo Prairie, Ferris said.

In other developments:

The Biscuit Fire has prevented a search for a Grants Pass man who was last seen a month ago as he hiked into the Kalmiopsis Wilderness.

Two days after 32-year-old Michael Woods set out on a three-week backpacking trip, lightning sparked the 376,492-acre Biscuit Fire. The blaze has been burning since July 13 and covers an area nearly half the size of Rhode Island.

"With the fire activity, hopefully he was able to find some shelter -- a creek, river drainage, an abandoned mine," said Lt. Brian Anderson of the Josephine County Sheriff's Office.

Boy Scout officials say they consider the damage done by the fire as an opportunity to make improvements at McCaleb Ranch, a historic camp damaged two weeks ago.

The wildfire reached the ranch on July 26 and destroyed most of the camp's buildings. The fire, however, didn't touch a footbridge and low-water bridge that cross the Illinois River, so the scouts still have access to the site.

"I think we'll use this as a means to improve the facility," said Pat Fahey, Troop 23 Scoutmaster. "We've been wanting to do stuff for years. This might spur us to get something done."

Full containment for the southern flank in California was expected by Thursday. The whole fire was 25 percent contained.

"The fire isn't spreading that much," said Ferris. "It's creeping against the wind along the ridges and down the slopes, then running up the other side."

Meanwhile, a new fire erupted Sunday in eastern Oregon, about 17 miles northwest of Burns. Officials said the fire was caused by human activity.

"This one has potential. If we don't catch it today, it's going to be a biggie," Widmark said.

The new fire, named the Bald Green Butte fire, was burning near a Ponderosa pine forest and rugged terrain.

[Grampa Dave]

It will be hot all over Oregon today. The east winds blowing down over the burning former Kalmiopsis Wilderness area could endanger the cities, towns and people living west of the fire.

Also, inspite of the North winds the past week, the fire appears to be inching its way north to Agness and Wilderness Retreat.

Pray for those who live in this area are in severe harm's way thanks to the agendas of the al Qaeda Tree Huggers of Oregon. The fire fighters of course are at peril any day they are on the line.

[bray]

376,000 acres equals 587.5 square miles of some of the most beautiful forests in the world! Thanks go to the Sierra Club of Oregon and Gov Taxhiker for making sure they burn rather than harvested.

Pray for GW and our Firefighters

[Grampa Dave]

Good Morning.

Here is the latest.

It will be hot over most of Oregon today. Stay safe where ever you are.

Again we appreciate all the local reports. Our local star reporter Granof8 has done an incredible job of being our local eyes and ears with this fire.

People in Portland are not really aware of this fire, and they don't realize that the Kalmiopsis Wilderness has burnt up, still is burning and will burn until the winter rains come. They still think that this fire is near Florence.

So it is up to us to spread the word about the reality of this fire.

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks, by the time you made the post, and I responded to you, the total burn area is at least 600 square miles.

Like you said thanks to Club Sierra and Governor Taxhiker plus Andy Kerr, the ONRC and the communist Watermelons posing as enviralists this beautiful area has burnt, is burning and will burn until winter.

This was not only a beautiful forest, it was one of the most beautiful wilderness areas in the world. Now it is gone thanks to the Green Jihadists's agendas. May God damn them! Before then we need to damn them and blame them 24/7 for the destruction of God's gift to the rest of us!

[Grampa Dave]

This is the morning update on this ongoing Green Jihadist Act of Terrorism against the people living around this natural fire that they love.

Please ping it to your list, so that they will know the reality of what happens when the unelected Green Jihadists forced their deadly agendas on America/Americans.

Thanks, again for your great help in spreading the word of this ongoing act of Green Terrorism.

[Grampa Dave]

The sad saga of the ungoing Green Jihadists's terrorism against the innocents in Oregon and California who live around this former wilderness area continues.

Very hot temps and winds are expected today and tomorrow. The next two days will be very critical re containment of the Green Jihadists's act of terror against America, Oregon, California and the people living there in harm's way.

[dixiechick2000]

Thanks for the ping and the latest, Gramps!

This is just a quick bump. Dang, the kids are up early this morning!
See ya' later!

BTTT

[Archie Bunker on steroids]

Record temps all over the State today. Rogue valley will approach 110, Portland expects 99 - WOW! The Basin will hit 95. Miserable conditions for anyone with fire gear on. Lets hope no one else gets hurt.

[Grampa Dave]

Weather forecast for Grants Pass, Oregon. It will be hot today and tomorrow with temps over 100. (Accuweather forecast for Medford, Oregon)

[Grampa Dave]

Terrible temps for all living in Oregon.

The Nomex fire suits are terrible to be in. However, they have to be in them in case there is a flash back, falling burning embers and worse situations.

You take care of yourself and your family.

[Grampa Dave]

Here is this morning's fire map. There is a lot of new red for fires on the west side and on the north side of the former Kalmiopsis Wilderness area. Also, it appears that there has been slop over in the Kali area along route 199:

[AAABEST]

This is just rotten, it really is.

[Archie Bunker on steroids]

Heading up to Crater Lake today. Hopefully smoke from the Tiller fire isn't settling in the crater. You cannot see Mt Scott or the Crater from 5 miles right now.

Thanks for all the updates - will check in later,

[Granof8]

First, the good news:

Southern line may hold on Smith River;

No "significant" runs overnight;

May not need to do backburns in the Winchuck area.

Now for the rest of the story:

379,000 acres;

Snow Camp Lookout burned last night;

2-1/2 to 3 miles from Wilderness Retreat;

Fire around Tolman Ranch.

[BOBTHENAILER]

Pray for those who live in this area are in severe harm's way thanks to the agendas of the al Qaeda Tree Huggers of Oregon. The fire fighters of course are at peril any day they are on the line.

I'll say a prayer for all of them.

[Grampa Dave]

Here is the newest florist circus map of the Kalmiopsis Wildnerness Fire.

They have new color codes which I can't decipher with my computer to apparently show the various time lines of the fire.

If anyone can decipher the progression codes, please post them for us.

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for the good news and the other news.

Wasn't the lookout station at Snow Camp being manned or womanned?

If it was lost, this is a real blow on keeping track of what was going on and new burn areas.

[AAABEST]

It's just so damn illogical and senseless. Gosh, if we could only have roads for access and fire breaks and the ability to clean and manage the forrests. It would be the best thing in the world for the creatures, plants and the people.

Now lives and property are being destroyed because the "fragile wilderness" the silly ideologues were trying to protect is being ruined and it's their own freakin fault.

It's as absurd as it is infuriating to watch.

[EBUCK]

Stickers are in. I'll be shippin them at lunch today.

My brother is working near tent-city in Shady Cove. I'm going to send 15 of them with him to sell to the firefighters staying there. That will leave 5 to be distributed to politicians etc. Let's get a list of the top five people/organisations that deserve a "donation".

EBUCK

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks Bob.

This fire is about to enter a real serious phase. It has been serious since the first lightening strikes, and the Green Jihadist Weenies cheered and welcomed the good fires. However, all of their containment work on the east, north and south sides will be tested. I don't believe that much containment has been done on the West side.

This Green Terrorist Disaster could go ballistic in the next 48 hours with the potential of record breaking high temps, winds and the winds that a massive fire creates on its own.

Every Oregonian enviralist should be rounded up at gun point, then driven to fight this fire. Start with their Green Weenie Governor Tax hiker, Andy Kerr and every card carrying enviral in Oregon. Give them a nomex suit, a helmet, a canteen of water and a hoe dag to fight the fire.

If they try to run away at the fire's perimeter, shoot them! Let them experience the terror that they have brought about with their anti human agendas! Then if they survive they will know that fire is not good! Fire kills, maims and destroys.