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The Oregon FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force arrested two people today in connection with an arson fire that damaged log trucks in Eagle Creek in June of last year. Two others were indicted and are being sought. The truck fire happened near where protesters were camped out to block the now-canceled Eagle Creek timber sale. Federal prosecutors said the suspects face up to a million dollars in fines and 30 years in jail. A well-known Portland activist is among those indicted. Michael J. Scarpitti -- who goes by the name Tre Arrow -- is most known for living on a...

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...

Oregon's largest wildfire in more than a century threatened power lines feeding several Northern California towns yesterday as crews tried to stop a slow creep along its southeastern flank. Hand crews had created three or four fire lines in front of the advancing flames west of O'Brien, but said they would have to ask Pacific Power to shut down the power lines if the wildfire got too close. When carbon-rich smoke thickens around the cables, it can cause the electricity from the lines to arc, endangering firefighters. Turning off the power would put the California towns of Gasquet, Hiouchi and...

<p>GRANTS PASS, Ore.  — The nation's largest active wildfire grew to about 333,890 acres early Saturday, making it Oregon's largest wildfire in over a century.</p> <p>The blaze in the Siskiyou National Forest and adjoining lands in southwestern Oregon and Northern California is now larger than the 1933 Tillamook Fire, which burned 311,000 acres.</p>

Fires Spread Plant Damage, Disease, Ore-gone Eco Terrorists's View of Fire Fighting 08/10/2002 By GILLIAN FLACCUS, Associated Press Writer The Lemmingsworth Gulch Research Natural Area would be a wonderful place to make a last stand against a raging wildfire -- it's wet, boggy and flat, without many trees. But when fire officials suggested building a fireline through the 818-acre site to help contain the massive Florence Fire, ecologist Dr. Tom Atzet balked. The federally designated area contains at least three sensitive plant species, including the fly-eating Cobra lily, and serves as a crucial research spot. "That research area has a...

August 10, 2002 Florence fire jumps lines, makes tracks for Brookings By PAUL FATTIG Medford Florence fire jumps lines, makes tracks for Brookings Mail Tribune The dog days of August continue to hound firefighters battling the southern flank of the 331,375-acre Florence fire. As temperatures rise, residents in the hamlet of Wilderness Retreat along the Chetco River more than a half-dozen miles east of Brookings have been warned to evacuate on a moment’s notice if the fire flares up along its southwest flank. However, the fire is about three and a half miles from the scattered homes and as of...

Friday, August 9, 2002 Task Force Says Some Grazing OK By Brendan Smith Journal Staff Writer     Range conditions in the Santa Fe National Forest are much better than reported by forest officials, and about half of the closed grazing allotments can still support cattle this year, the New Mexico Range Improvement Task Force reported Thursday.     The task force evaluation was requested by ranchers who were ordered last month to remove all or part of their herds from about 40 grazing allotments, which forest officials said had been damaged by severe drought and overgrazing.     However, the task force...

Friday, August 9, 2002 Groups Protest N.M. Drilling By Tania Soussan Journal Staff Writer     Provisions of a House energy bill now before congressional negotiators would allow unprecedented oil and gas drilling in sensitive areas of New Mexico, conservationists said this week.     A coalition of 17 groups — including the Sierra Club, Defenders of Wildlife, the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance, the San Juan Citizen's Alliance and Forest Guardians — released a report detailing the potential impacts of the bill.     They called on Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., and others to kill several provisions in the energy bill passed by...

<p>RENO, Nev. (AP) -- The federal government and environmentalists are locked in a bitter dispute over the answer to a thorny question: When is a burned tree no longer alive?</p> <p>The debate has resurfaced as the Forest Service tries to log fire-killed trees in the Sierra Nevada and elsewhere in the West as part of an effort to reduce fire threats.</p>

Uncontrolled wildfires destroying tens of thousands of acres of pristine forestland in southern Oregon and threatening scores of homes, farms and ranches are now raging very close to WorldNetDaily's secluded corporate headquarters, forcing evacuation of all personnel and vital equipment. The so-called "Florence" fire, ignited by lightning almost two weeks ago, has already consumed over 18,000 acres of tinder-dry forest and remains totally uncontained despite the efforts of 500 firefighters. "Our primary concern right now is for the safety of our employees and their fight to save their own homes," said Joseph Farah, editor and chief executive officer of WorldNetDaily....

30-mile fire front menaces southwest Oregon towns 07/30/02 BETH QUINN CAVE JUNCTION -- Wildland firefighters battled to keep a 30-mile-long wall of fire from reaching the Illinois Valley on Monday where 17,000 people were warned to get ready to flee. From Our Advertiser As the 70,000 acre Florence fire roared south toward the 20,000-acre Sour Biscuit blaze, firefighters dug a last-ditch fire line stretching along the western edge of the valley and southwestern Oregon communities. Sixteen bulldozers worked the line on the steep ridges west of Woodrat, Tennessee and Eight Dollar mountains while 14 more wait along U.S. 199 in...

<p>Two others survive their engine's plunge as their crew fights the Klamath National Forest blaze.</p> <p>Three U.S. Forest Service firefighters from the Lassen National Forest died Sunday and two others were critically injured when their engine tumbled into a steep ravine while they were battling a wildfire near the Oregon state line, officials said.</p>

Wildfire News Fires burning on more than 272,000 acres across Oregon The Associated Press 7/29/02 1:03 AM Major wildfires were burning on 272,422 acres in Oregon on Sunday. About 12,503 firefighters are working in the state. The Northwest Interagency Communication Center is tracking at least 15 major fires in Oregon. Top priorities for fire officials were the Cache Mountain fire, Sheldon Ridge fire and Biscuit-Florence-Sour fire. WHITE RIVER Started: 7/23/02, one mile east of Maupin Size: 25,000 acres Containment: 95 percent. Evacuations: mandatory evacuation of White River campground 7/24/02; Bake Oven Road and Buckhollow Road reopened, 7/27/02. Lower Deschutes River...

Lightning Ignites New Fires in Central Oregon 07/24/2002 By AP and KGW Staff Nearly 1,000 lightning strikes hit central Oregon yesterday afternoon and last night igniting several new fires across the state. Firefighters are now chasing the new wildfires, including one that has prompted the voluntary evacuation of campgrounds on Suttle and Blue lakes northwest of Sisters. Heavy lift helicopters are set to begin attacking the Cache Mountain fire this morning, said David Widmark, spokesman for the Northwest Interagency Coodination Center in Portland. Smoke billows skyward and spreads east near Summer Lake, Ore., Tuesday. (AP Photo) The Cache Mountain fire...

National Guard troops mop up Winter Fire to free experienced crews By JEFF BARNARD The Associated Press PAISLEY, Ore. (AP) -- Their cots lined up 12 inches apart, and olive drab tents tautly pitched in a grassy field, National Guard troops tossed footballs, listened to rock and roll and called home on cell phones as they waited to join the battle against forest fires burning across Oregon. Fresh from training after being called up by Gov. John Kitzhaber, 250 members of the 82nd Armored Cavalry out of Redmond were scheduled to begin mopping up hot spots and smoking stumps in...

PINE FLAT, Calif. (AP) - A ferocious wildfire fed by underbrush and weeks of dry weather roared toward a treasured grove of ancient sequoias, setting up potentially devastating scenario if flames reach the trees. The 48,200-acre blaze moved through the valleys of the Giant Sequoia National Monument and came within a few miles of the Freeman Creek Grove and Trail of 100 Giants. "If fire does get in the Trail of 100 Giants, we won't be putting firefighters in there to try to stop it. It will be a climax of 300- or 400-foot flames," said Jim Paxon, spokesman for...