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Folks seek information as haze sets in BY AMBER FOSSEN Ashland Daily Tidings The blanket of smoke layering the Rogue Valley ignited a flurry of phone calls as residents sought out its source. The smoke, funneling into the valley from the Clark and Canyonville fires in Lane and Douglas Counties respectively, prompted local residents to flood 911 dispatchers, fire stations and local media with phone calls. After last summer's smoke filled skies, area residents are on the alert. "We appreciate our people being vigilant," said Ashland Fire and Rescue Chief Keith Woodley. "We would rather have that than have no one call." According to Southern Oregon Regional Communications representatives, nearly 200 calls were received during a two-hour period Tuesday afternoon as smoke poured into the valley causing concerned residents to report the possibility of a fire. Fire officials attribute the smoke to the Clark fire, which has burned 3,200 acres as of this morning. Greg Thayer, Clark fire information officer, said the fire is 25 percent contained and that more smoke will continue to filter into the valley as burnouts continue. "A burnout (Tuesday) added to the smoke which went south, east and a little northeast," Thayer said. "This will occur again today and then tomorrow, you'll start noticing a little less." The Clark fire, believed to be human caused, is expected to be contained by Sunday. There are about 1,100 people working on the fire. National Weather Service officials said residents can expect to see smoke until Saturday, when westerly winds will blow through. The Canyonville fires, four separate fires ignited by vehicle exhaust, were contained at 78 acres, fire officials said. Additional smoke from the Left Fork Foots Creek fire in Gold Hill also contributed to smoke filled skies, according to Dennis Turco, fire prevention specialist with the Oregon Department of Forestry. Approximately 100 firefighters from the Oregon Department of Forestry, Rogue River Rural Fire Protection District, USDA Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Jackson County Fire District No. 3, Illinois Valley Rural Fire Protection District, Rural Metro Fire Department, Evans Valley Rural Fire Protection District, Medford Fire Department, and a number of private contract resources have participated in the containment effort. "The fire is awfully dry and stubborn but hopefully by the end of the shift today, it will be contained," Turco said. The main fire is being held at 5 to 6 acres. Turco said crews were working to establish a line around a 1/4-acre spot fire this morning. The spot fire was ignited due to high winds. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. To help disperse information to the public on local fires, an information hotline will be established, Woodley said. Woodley met with city administrators earlier this week and has enlisted the help of the Ashland Fiber Network. "The recent experience with the fire at the watershed brought to light the need for additional communication," Woodley said. "So what we've decided to do is set up an information hotline." Woodley said the hotline will be in place as soon as possible but no date has been established. Fire officials said residents with respiratory problems should stay indoors and that drivers should exercise caution while driving in heavy smoke. LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -