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Fire spreads to 160 acres By JIM DAVIS HAPPY CAMP -- A lightning-caused fire just south of the Oregon-California border grew to more than 160 acres Monday. Firefighters fear the "East" fire five miles southeast of Happy Camp will grow even larger. But by late afternoon, fire crews had controlled 26 of 40 fires burning in or near the Klamath National Forest, said Marian Swinney, a fire information officer "We've done a pretty good job," Swinney said. No homes or buildings have been threatened by the fires, and no recreation sites or trails have been closed. Even so, fire officials are encouraging people to keep out of the fire areas. Many of the fires broke out Friday along ridge tops as a lightning storm moved through an area around the Klamath River late Friday and early Saturday. More than 600 people have fought the fires, including 40 smoke jumpers and rappellers and 460 hand crews. Seven helicopters, four air tankers and more than 20 engines have been used in the efforts. Fire bosses called in so many firefighters because the fires were burning in dry country and on steep terrain with limited road access. In all, the blazes had burned about 277 acres by Monday evening. The largest fire was the East fire on the east fork of Elk Creek southeast of Happy Camp. It surged from 80 acres to 160 acres on Monday, Swinney said. Much of the growth was a result of firefighters' use of a technique known as a "burnout" -- crews start smaller fires and shepherd them into the main blaze, destroying fuel in the path of the main blaze. Swinny said the technique creates large amounts of smoke. The second largest fire was the "Five" fire, which had grown to 50 acres by Monday afternoon. The uncontained fire was located in the Siskiyou Wilderness in the Klamath National Forest, Swinney said. Some of the fires broke out in areas that were burned after a 1987 lightning storm kindled scores of fires in Southern Oregon and Northern California. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA