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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 14, 2005 A firefighting helicopter loads up water from the Rogue River at Mule Creek earlier this week. Crews still battling blossom blaze By CHRIS CONRAD Mail Tribune More than 500 firefighters battled the 4,843-acre Blossom Complex fire near Marial Saturday as local businesses continue to suffer daily losses from closure of the Rogue River.The fire was sparked near the Wild Rogue Wilderness area, approximately 25 miles northeast of Gold Beach, by lightning from a July 21 storm, fire officials said. Three separate fires broke out that night, two of which have since been controlled. The Blossom Complex fire, though, has proven to be resilient, nearly doubling in size between Wednesday and Friday. On Saturday, fire crawled down Mule Mountain toward the Rogue River. Advertisement Oregon Department of Forestry crews set up a fire camp near Glendale north of Grants Pass.Eight helicopters attacked from the air, dropping buckets of water and flame retardant onto the fire. Fourteen crews from the ODF and the Pacific Northwest National Incident Management Team worked to establish fire lines along the blaze’s eastern flank, officials said. Since the fire began, crews have struggled with day temperatures in the high 90s and low nightly humidity, which have contributed to the fire’s gaining momentum late last week. On Thursday, the Marial Lodge and the Rogue River Ranch were evacuated when fire came within a mile of their grounds. Flames jumped fire lines Thursday, forcing the Bureau of Land Management to close the Rogue River between Grave Creek and Marial to all traffic. Also closed were the Rogue River National Recreation Trail between Grave Creek and Clay Hill Creek and roads leading to Tucker Flat and the Rogue River Ranch, ODF officials said. The fire couldn’t have come at a worse time for businesses that make most of their money from people taking August vacations on the river. The Wild and Scenic area of the Rogue River, which the ODF closed Thursday, is one of the most popular vacation spots in Oregon.Noah Hague, the owner of Noah’s River Adventures, said this point in the summer is "prime time" for rafting businesses such as his. "August is the busiest part of the year for us," he said. "(Closing the river) also affects our crews’ employment."Hughes said his business loses at least 50 percent of its revenue each day the river is closed. He is hopeful that the fire will be controlled soon — otherwise his business could suffer heavy losses for the year. The ODF told Hague that the river could open again in 10 days. But that could all change with one stiff breeze and more dry, hot weather."We’re hopeful that (the shutdown) will only be for days, not weeks," he said.Until then, Hague will provide customers with alternative river trips throughout the Rogue Valley.Lori Cameron, owner of the Marial Lodge, left with all of her guests Wednesday night as hot ash fell onto the lawns and rooftops of her business.The lodge now sits empty during what is supposed to be the busiest time of the year for lodges on the Rogue River."No one wants to see a fire at this time of year," Cameron said. "We would love to be open, but there’s no choice." Her husband remains at the lodge, defending his property by spraying down all buildings and the lawn with a water hose. Cameron said that many of the nearby lodges and campgrounds are suffering from the lack of business."It’s hurting everybody," she said. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Computer Security Discount Hotel Reservations Debt Consolidation Generic Viagra Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Advertisement s Advertisement