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08/12/2002
Firefighters trying to protect remote communities from the massive Biscuit Fire faced explosive conditions as temperatures climbed to 100 degrees with dry east winds on Monday.
"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."
Flames shoot into the air from the Biscuit fire near Agnes, Ore. (AP Photo) |
"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 near O'Brien, 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.
The fire, Oregon's largest in more than a century, stood at 376,492 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.
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In other developments:
Hiker Missing
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.
Scout Camp to Rebuild
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."
To fight the fire, authorities have deployed a force of 6,100 firefighters and support staff in four separate units based in Gold Beach, Selma, Brookings and Crescent City, Calif.
The fire was formerly known as the Florence Fire. 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."
Latest on Evacuations
On the northern flank, Ferris said the threat was reduced to the community of Agness, home to about 150 people and a center of whitewater rafting on the Rogue River. A fire retardant plant was installed to supply helicopters fighting the fire.
The two-week-old evacuation alert for the 17,000 of the Illinois Valley was further eased from 8 hours to 12 hours notice. That means people should be ready to leave within 12 hours of an alert.
On the western flank, the fire crept within about four miles of the Wilderness Retreat subdivision, where all but a few of the some 40 residents have heeded a voluntary evacuation notice, Mathison said.
New Fire Sparked in Eastern Oregon
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," said David Widmark, spokesman for the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center in Portland.
The new fire, named the Bald Green Butte fire, was burning on 100 acres near a Ponderosa pine forest and rugged terrain.
Major fires burning around Oregon on Monday included:
BISCUIT FIRE (formerly called Florence Fire; name changed on 8/11/02)
Started: Florence fire started 26 miles west of Grant Pass, 07/13/02; Sour Biscuit started 17 miles southwest of Cave Junction.
Size: 376,492 acres.
Containment: 25 percent.
Evacuations: The entire Illinois Valley on 12-hour notice to evacuate. Agness, on northwest corner of the fire, is on 24-hour evacuation notice.
Damage: 4 residences and 8 outbuildings.
On scene: 6,132 firefighters.
Cause: Lightning.
TILLER COMPLEX
Started: Outside Tiller, east of Canyonville off Interstate 5, 07/12/02.
Size: 42,490 acres.
Containment: 36 percent.
Evacuations: South Umpqua Road closed at milepost 6. Fifteen residences threatened. Tribal ceremonial grounds and critical cultural resources are threatened.
Damage: No listed damage.
On scene: 1,917 firefighters
Cause: Lightning.
MONUMENT-MALHEUR COMPLEX (Monument and Malheur fires merged under one management team, 8/11/02)
Started: 9 miles southwest of Unity, 07/12/02
Size: 40,605 acres
Containment: 95 percent.
Evacuations: None at this time.
Damage: None.
On Scene: 546 firefighters.
Cause: Lightning.
HEMLOCK FIRE
Started: 1/2 mile north of Westfir
Size: 136 acres
Containment: 60 percent.
Evacuations: None at this time.
Damage: None.
On Scene: 511 firefighters.
Cause: Under investigation.
BALD GREEN BUTTE
Started: 17 miles east of Burns, 8/11/02
Size: 100 acres.
Containment: Zero.
Evacuations: None.
Damage: None.
On Scene: 64 firefighters.
Cause: Human caused, underinvestigation.
(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
