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Three Firefighters Hurt in Siuslaw Fire
08/20/2002

By kgw.com and AP Staff

Three firefighters have been injured while fighting the Siuslaw fire between Eugene and Florence. None of the injuries are reported to be serious.

The Siuslaw fire is now burning on about 725 acres of public and private land. It was first reported Saturday and is now 35 percent contained. On Monday night, firefighters lit backburns to help stop the blaze from spreading.

One firefighter fell off a vertical drop and suffered five broken ribs. A second firefighter looking for the first one also fell, and suffered a hairline fracture of the wrist.

A third firefighter suffered torn ligaments when he slipped on a rock.
None of the three were immediately identified, but all were taken to a Eugene hospital and reported in good condition.

About 100 firefighters, 4 helicopters, 5 water tenders, 5 engines and two bulldozers. Fire commanders have asked for 400 more firefighters to help fight the wildfire.

To help bolster the firefighting efforts, the Oregon Department of Forestry is sending 120 soldiers from the Oregon Army National Guard's 1249th Engineer Battalion to the front lines.

It is the third time in the last 12 months that the unit has been called up to assist in fire suppression. But their mission in the Siuslaw River fire will be different this time because they won't be on mop-up duty, said Maj. Jeff Julum, a spokesman for the Oregon National Guard. Instead, the soldiers will be used to battle fires directly alongside regular firefighters.

Steep terrain filled with heavy fuels have made the Siuslaw River Valley difficult to battle. Winds transport firebrands, igniting spot fires. Burning logs rolling downhill have crossed containment lines.

The fire was first reported on Saturday by a passing motorist. When firefighters arrived, they found a quarter of an acre burned. But thanks to low humidity, hot weather and northwest winds, the fire has spread. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.