Document text
P/CLOUDY Temp: 39 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Saturday, April 26, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend July 28, 2002 Wind, low humidity fan Florence fire Residents of about 30 homes are asked to leave By DANI DODGE Mail Tribune Fierce winds, low humidity and parched vegetation fed an out-of-control Florence fire Saturday in Josephine County — prompting the evacuation of about 30 homes. Flames were leaping 80 to 100 feet in the air, and the wind was blowing embers as far as two miles in front of the fire, starting new blazes, said Rick Hartigan, information officer for the Florence fire, part of the larger Biscuit complex of fires in the area. At 4:30 p.m. Saturday residents along Illinois River Road west of and including the Deer Creek Ranch were ordered to evacuate. They had no prior warning. "We had extreme fire behavior," said Pam Leschak, an information officer for the Florence fire. "We are expecting more extreme fire behavior tomorrow." The Florence fire, about 6 or 7 miles west of Selma, is one of several wildfires currently burning in Southern Oregon. On Saturday, the fire grew by 2,500 acres for a total of 18,000 burned acres. About 725 people were fighting the blaze. The number is expected to increase significantly in the next few days, Leschak said. No structures have burned and no injuries were reported. The cost of fighting the fire had risen to $3.1 million Saturday. At 6:30 p.m. Saturday, the Josephine County Emergency Operations Center was activated. In addition to the immediate evacuations prompted by the fire, a large number of people who live west of U.S. 199 from Fort Hay to and including Eight Dollar Mountain Road were advised to prepare for evacuation within 48 hours. Fire officials did not know how many residents would be affected by the advanced warning. People living in that area should pack sufficient clothing for an extended stay and arrange for lodging with friends or family if possible. They should prepare for the shelter and care of their animals. An evacuation shelter was being established Saturday night at Grants Pass Middle School. The fire was so erratic and growing so rapidly, firefighters were taken off the fire line and started building fire breaks farther away from the flames. "They were building line to stop the fire as it approached, rather than being in hand-to-hand combat with the fire," Leschak said. "The flames were too high and it was moving too fast to have them too close. There is no date for containment, Hartigan said. Numbers for the Josephine County Emergency Operations Center are 541-474-5305, 541-471-7351 and 541-471-2656. Reach reporter Dani Dodge at 776-4471, 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 © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S