Posted on 08/27/2002 10:49:14 AM PDT by Grampa Dave
Containment nearing on Biscuit Fire
By JEFF BARNARD The Associated Press 8/27/02 10:48 AM
GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) -- The nation's biggest wildfire this year, the Biscuit fire in southwestern Oregon, passed the 500,000-acre mark on Tuesday as firefighters closed in on containment and some crews were sent to other fires.
Only 10 miles of fire line remained to be strengthened with burnout operations, raising the total acreage to 500,023 acres, said U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Jean Schaeppi.
Started by lightning strikes July 13, the fire remained 90 percent contained, with full containment expected Aug. 31. Containment means fire commanders don't expect the fire to break out of fire lines. There was no date projected for full control.
Earlier this month, the fire threatened 17,000 people in the Illinois Valley, and burned a handful of cabins along the Illinois River.
Red flag warnings were in effect for hot dry winds on the ridgetops, which would test the strength of containment lines, particularly around the Pistol River drainage on the western side of the fire, where burnout operations remained to be done, Schaeppi said.
"They're keeping a close eye on the lines to make sure there are no spot-overs and everything stays within," Schaeppi said. "Residents of the area may see more smoke today."
More crews on the east side of the fire were leaving fire camp at Lake Selmac outside the community of Selma and being reassigned to other fires. Total personnel stood at 3,522, a little more than half the number when the fire was at its peak.
The fire has cost $108.8 million to fight so far. It covers nearly all of the Kalmiopsis Wilderness, much of the Siskiyou National Forest, and dips into Northern California. Altogether, about $300 million has been spent to fight wildfires in Oregon this summer.
Three other Oregon fires were considered priorities on Tuesday:
-- The 65,800-acre Tiller Complex, 25 miles east of Canyonville in the Umpqua National Forest, was 70 percent contained and crews reported making good progress on burnout and line construction.
-- The 9,300-acre Apple fire, 21 miles east of Glide on the Umpqua National Forest, was 20 percent contained. Heavy helicopters checked a push east by the fire near Calf Creek.
--The 2,680-acre Lava fire, 15 miles north of Christmas Valley on U.S. Bureau of Land Management rangeland, was 35 percent contained.
Please go to this thread to see what happens when Freepers across the board say insanity from a left wing group is enough! (F.I.R.E. Fighting Irresponsible Radical Environmentalism )
Please post your great pictures of the burnt trees that you posted on the new Arizona Thread on (F.I.R.E. Fighting Irresponsible Radical Environmentalism ).
That way people can see that there is a common sense alternative. Thanks!
Yep. The private sector is the only way to go. They think it's some kind of sin for the government to make money off trees on federal land. Of course, they think that if the government gives them away it's a sin. Then again they think LOGGING AT ALL is a sin.....
I need more coffee.
Yep....especially for themselves.
Jack Blackwell, regional forester for the Pacific Southwest, said recent estimates show it will cost $105 million in fiscal 2004 to thin more than 100,000 acres around vulnerable communities.
Brush-clearing costs doubled, forester warns - SacBee
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