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SUNNY Temp: 62 °F Wind: NNW at 3 mph Saturday, July 20, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Cyberchef E The People Golf Job Network Headbone Zone Wellness Connection Movie Times Newspaper in Education Oregon CarZone Outdoor Journal Personals Prime Times Real Estate Tempo A & E TV Times W3 Magazine CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Destinations Automotive Communities Employment Entertainment Publications Real Estate Recreation Shopping Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Jobs @ Mail Tribune Email Story to a Friend July 18, 2002 The Squire fire burns a hillside off Sterling Creek Road as a helicopter heads off for another bucket of water. The fire grew to 2,300 acres Wednesday, up from 1,800 on Tuesday. It destroyed a barn on Sterling Creek and an outbuilding in Hukill Hollow. Click the photo to see a larger (25k) version; use your Back button to return to the story. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Related stories: � Fire bosses keep locals informed about conditions . � The Wall Creek fire threatens rural homes; a roundup of major wildfires in Southern Oregon and Northern California . Neighbors to the rescue Dozens of people help 200 residents in the path of the growing Squire fire, clearing brush and building roads to protect homes southeast of Ruch By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune Friends, relatives and neighbors pitched in to help clear brush and build roads Wednesday to protect homes threatened by the 2,300-acre Squire fire. "We had kids out stomping the grass out with their feet," said 76-year-old Clyde "Pete" Bedingfield of Central Point. He spent part of Tuesday night bulldozing a mile-long fire line along a steep ridgetop to protect his grandson’s home off Sterling Creek Road. The fire, which had grown by 500 acres since Tuesday, crested ridgetops as it neared Sterling Creek Road. Bedingfield, a retired logger, was one of dozens of people who showed up to help 200 property owners threatened by the blaze southeast of Ruch. Near sunset, retardant planes that had been deployed to other fires returned to the skies above Ruch and dropped six loads of retardant on hot spots, including at least one load near structures around the 9000 block of Sterling Creek Road, fire information officer Dave Wells said. Fire bosses remained concerned about the south flank of the fire, on ridges above the Little Applegate River. Helicopters pounded hot spots in that area during the day with water drops. Only two structures, a barn on Sterling Creek and an outbuilding in Hukill Hollow, had been lost to the flames, said Fire Chief Bret Fillis of Jackson County Fire District 9. The fire continued to advance Wednesday evening as helicopters dumped water on hot spots whipped up by afternoon winds. Many homeowners packed out their belongings, their livestock and their pets as fire officials asked them to voluntarily evacuate. Oregon State Police Trooper Bill Matson said, "They’re bringing truckloads and carloads of stuff out." "There was a solid line going in and a solid line going out," said Deric Chenault, a Sterling Creek resident. Between volunteers and onlookers, homeowners had trouble returning to their properties as Sterling Creek Road became choked with traffic. Fire officials closed off the area, allowing only residents to enter. Some neighbors and residents felt that if they left there would be nobody to monitor the fire line. "With the lack of manpower, if we don’t watch the fire, who will?" asked John Rouhier, a Central Point resident who was one of many people who helped Matt Cook save his Gilson Gulch home. "We had so many people showing up, we were turning away help." Cook and Rouhier drove a pickup in to make sure the flames hadn’t jumped the fire line. Sterling Creek Road resident Phil Morton stayed up all Tuesday night, packing up his belongings and getting ready to fend off the fire with the help of about 12 friends and neighbors. At the same time, he watched the flames advance. "Once it hit the top of the hill, this whole place lit up," he said. Many of the neighbors felt they were the last stand in protecting their homes. "The biggest problem with this fire is the resources are thin," said Sterling Creek resident Sue Chenault. John Edwards, who watched as blackened manzanita leaves rained down on his Sterling Creek house, agreed. "They just pulled everybody off the fire and moved it up north," he said. "Now they’re bringing them back." He and his wife packed up their belongings and were ready to evacuate. "I want to stay here but my wife doesn’t want us to," said Edwards, watching the smoke rise on a ridge above his house. "I’ll be here until the winds kick up around 5 p.m." Another Sterling Creek homeowner, Bjorn Everson, viewed the fire’s advance with alarm Wednesday evening. "This is worse now," he said. "It’s backed down the ridge toward us." Everson planned to stick it out, even if the flames came close to his house. "We’re prepared for battle," he said. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy web master feedback A D V E R T I S E R S