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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Gap fire eclipses 17,500 acres but is slowed by cooler, moist marine air ... Local wineries earn gold ... Voter information for Jackson County ... Gap fire eclipses 17,500 acres but is slowed by cooler, moist marine air ... Local wineries earn gold ... Voter information for Jackson County ... GAP FIRE Numerous structures reportedly destroyed in Seiad Valley blaze Comment By Ryan Pfeil For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Ryan Pfeil For the Tidings Posted Aug. 30, 2016 at 8:24 AM Updated Aug 30, 2016 at 8:01 PM By Ryan Pfeil For the Tidings Posted Aug. 30, 2016 at 8:24 AM Updated Aug 30, 2016 at 8:01 PM » Social News By Tuesday, a ferocious wildfire burning in Northern California had reportedly destroyed nine homes and was closing in on the 9,000-acre mark. In a news release, the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office reported the Gap Fire, burning five miles north of the Seiad Valley (and about 34 miles southwest of Ashland), also destroyed as many as 14 outbuildings. There have been no reports of injuries thus far, fire officials said. The fire ignited about 18 miles northwest of Yreka Saturday evening and found rapid momentum by Sunday. "Fire behavior increased late Sunday afternoon and through the night due to heavy fuels, many years of drought and strong erratic wind," an Incident Information System report on the fire reads. "By Monday morning the size of the fire had increased to 5,000 acres." On Tuesday morning, fire officials said the blaze had grown to 8,820 acres. It is zero percent contained. There are currently 709 personnel battling the flames, with an incident management team overseeing operations. U.S. Forest Service officials reported most of the fire's growth is happening on the southern flank. On Tuesday, crews continued to build fire lines into the Robinson Gulch, from Cloud Mountain west to the Horse Creek Drainage and east toward Middle Creek, and west from Buckhorn Ridge to Middle Creek. Crews hope to keep the fire contained north of Highway 96 between the Seiad and Horse creeks, south of the Siskiyou Crest, east of Seiad Creek and west of the 2014 Beaver Fire boundary. Winds from the southwest are expected to continue to push smoke into the Rogue Valley on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. Whether the clouds will settle on the valley floor and leave the same glaze of ash on cars, buildings and sidewalks seen Monday remains to be seen. "We'll definitely see smoke above the valley today," said meteorologist Charles Smith. Ashland has registered "moderate" air quality for the past 24 hours, according to data from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. Medford and Applegate stations show "good" air quality for the same time period. A wind shift is forecast for Thursday afternoon, with winds from the west expected to blow east, which could thin the smoke. "I don’t think Medford will really be in the thick of it. We’ll still have a haze," Smith said. Fire officials issued evacuation notices for residents in the Hamburg and Horse Creek areas. An advisory evacuation notice has been issued for Scott Bar. Highway 96 is open to local traffic, with a pilot car escort leading motorists from Walker Creek to Scott River Road. All area side roads will remain closed. The area should be avoided if possible, fire officials said. Burned material, rocks and vegetation that have been loosened by the flames could roll onto the road. An evacuation shelter has been established at the Siskiyou Golden Fairgrounds, 1712 Fairlane Road in Yreka. There are two scheduled community meetings about the fire. The first will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday night at the Seiad Volunteer Fire Station, 44601 State Highway 96, Seiad Valley, Calif. The second is planned for 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1 at the Scott Bar Community Center, 27427 Scott River Road, Scott Bar, Calif. The fire's cause is not known. Anyone with information is asked to contact U.S. Forest Service law enforcement at 530-841-4474. Callers are asked to leave a message with a call back number. They may also contact the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office dispatch line at 530-841-2900. Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected]. Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil . By Ryan Pfeil For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Ryan Pfeil For the Tidings Posted Aug. 30, 2016 at 8:24 AM Updated Aug 30, 2016 at 8:01 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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