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--> --> Squire Fire 85 percent contained By Sean Wolfe Ashland Daily Tidings Efforts to contain the 3,038-acre Squire Fire near Ruch have been successful, with fire officials reporting this morning the blaze, which eluded containment for days, is now 85 percent in-check. Separately, a half-acre fire near Lithia Park in Ashland was drenched by a helicopter armed with a waterbag on Thursday. That fire was believed to have also been caused by recent lightning strikes. The fire evidently smoldered for days, before erupting. A crew and an engine from Ashland Fire and Rescue, working in tandem with the Oregon Department of Forestry contained the fire inside of two hours. No structures were threatened. Earlier, full containment for the Squire Fire was predicted for Sunday at 7 p.m. Now it appears that full containment may be achieved ahead of schedule. Structural task forces were able to reduce threatened homes on Sterling Creek Road from 215 to 52. Other structures, including 76 outbuildings, continue to be threatened. Sterling Creek Road is two miles east of Ruch off Highway 238 heading from Jacksonville. The epicenter of the fire occurred roughly 16 miles west of Ashland, 10 miles southwest of Medford. Today's strategy includes solidifying existing firelines in the area, taking out hot spots, and other mop-up work. Firelines held up through the night, in part because winds remained low, according to Oregon Department of Forestry fire prevention officer Dennis Turco, "That was a real plus. The result of that is that the Squire Fire, which had rated number two in the state, is now number seven," Turco said today. Turco said the decline in priority means air support for firefighters today will be deployed elsewhere, where more homes are threatened. "Chances are we won't have a tanker available today," Turco said. "Priority for air tankers has gone to Toolbox and Silver." The Toolbox fire currently ranks No. 1 in the state. The blaze started 10 miles south of Silver Lake on July 12 as the result of lightning. Containment levels are at 5 percent, and the fire has already scorched 44,300 acres. More than 500 firefighters are working the scene, according to officials at the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center. Taking the Squire Fire's spot in the No. 2 slot is the Winter Fire, 10 miles northwest of Paisley. That blaze, which also started July 12 has consumed 29,300 acres, and is 10 percent contained. Approximately 700 firefighters are working that site. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing