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Quartz Fire out; restoration starts Officials target Dec. 31 for preliminary phase By DAMIAN MANN LITTLE APPLEGATE - The Quartz Fire drew its last breath Friday evening as firefighters declared victory over a blaze that consumed 6,170 acres and cost $10.5 million to fight. Preliminary restoration of the blackened forest will cost an additional $440,000 as a major push begins to prevent erosion from winter rains. The U.S. Forest Service is also devising a two-year reforestation plan that officials estimate could cost considerably more. In the meantime, fire crews spent Friday completing the mop-up of a 500-foot area around the perimeter and snuffing out the last of the hot spots. With a tight ring around the perimeter, firefighters officially declared the Quartz Fire controlled as of 6 p.m. Friday. A fire is considered controlled when officials are confident the fire is unlikely to cross established containment lines. Fire prevention specialist Dennis Turco said a 50-member crew will continue to monitor the area during the next few weeks in case any unknown hot spots flare up. "There is still plenty of unburned fuel," he said. He also warned that many have the feeling that the fire season is now winding down. "But this is the most critical time of the season," he said. The Quartz Fire began Aug. 9, sparked by a lightning strike. At the height of a blaze that darkened the Rogue Valley with smoky skies for a week, about 2,300 people worked on the fire, battling high temperatures and rugged terrain. It began on Bureau of Land Management land, then spread to forestry land and private property, destroying two homes in its wake. Restoration work began even as the fire raged. Crews altered fire lines so fall rain runoff would not trigger excess soil erosion and distributed native seeds in areas damaged by fire lines and bulldozers. Ed Riley, lead resource planner for the U.S. Forest Service, said crews want to complete initial restoration of forest areas before Dec. 31. To reduce the threat of erosion, they will cut down dead trees along contour lines near creek beds, create dams in streams, plant willow trees, distribute seed in blackened areas and place wood in streams to give them more stability. They will also try to control noxious, non-native weeds such as star thistle, scotch broom and spotted knapweed. While this work is underway, Riley said, the forest service will create a plan to reforest the burned-out areas. Because of a shortage of conifer seeds that are genetically similar to the trees in that area, Riley said, it could take up to two years to complete the replanting. "It will be very expensive," he said. "There will be substantial costs in the future for rehabilitation." In the meantime, Riley is hoping people leave the area alone until it has a chance to heal. "Everybody should stay out - especially off-road vehicles." Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.