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Winds cut power, stoke flames By JILL BRISKEY Gusty winds are to blame for at least one grass fire and a power outage that took place in the Rogue Valley Saturday afternoon. According to Pacific Power spokesman Monte Mendenhall, electricity was lost when a heavy wind tore loose a neutral wire on East Fourth Street around 4 p.m. The wire, which wrapped itself around another wire, caused a fault that knocked out power to an estimated 400 customers. Several traffic signals were also rendered useless, he said, A Pacific Power employee was sent to locate and repair the line. Electricity was back on line at 5:10 p.m. Saturday's winds were a result of a warm front moving through the Rogue Valley, according to meteorologist Mike O'Brien of the National Weather Service in Medford. "The strongest gusts were, I'd say, 29 knots, which is about 33 mph," O'Brien said. Jackson County Fire District 3 Captain Steve Cox of Fire said the heavy winds apparently stirred up a grass fire on Riley Road Saturday afternoon. Cox said a control burn had taken place two days ago and the fire hadn't completely died out. "The winds kicked up some coals and it grew from there," he added. It took crews about three hours to bring the fire under control, Cox said. It is unclear whether the wind is to blame for another grass fire near Rogue River at 2 p.m. Officials from the Oregon Department of Forestry - who handled the report - were unavailable for comment Saturday night. A spokesman from Rogue River Rural Fire Distinct 1 said that department assisted in the containment of the grass fire, which burned a three to five acre area. The blaze reportedly started in the Wards Creek drainage area on a hill. No homes were affected. The spokesman said the fire appeared to be under control Saturday night. O'Brien said strong gusts of winds aren't unusual this time of year. However, the front which brought Saturday's heavy breezes has already moved inland and fizzled out. Another front is scheduled to hit Southern Oregon some time on Monday, but O'Brien said he isn't sure if the heavy winds will return. Temperatures - which are a bit warm for this time of year - are predicted to drop slightly from Saturday's high of 86 degree, he added. Expect high clouds today and a high of 81 degrees, with the air cooling to 75 degrees Monday. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.