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Flames destroy rural home Photo by Andrew Kemp Ryan Schumann of the Oregon Department of Forestry's Medford branch drags a hose to fight a 35-acre fire that consumed the home of Rick and Sharon Sewell on Queens Branch Road north of Rogue River Monday evening. A couple of other homes were singed but survived the fast-moving fire. Twelve-year-old Jonathon Shonk helped save his house by putting a sprinkler on the roof 100 feet from the Sewells' home. "It was scary because the fire was right there," Jonathon said. "Trees were blowing up." But boy, 12, helps save his from Evans Creek-area fire By J.T. BUSHNELL ROGUE RIVER - A 12-year-old boy helped save his home from a fast-moving fire that burned 35 acres and at least one house a mile and a half north of here Monday evening. Jonathon Shonk climbed on top of his house with a sprinkler attached to a garden hose to wet the roof as fire consumed the home of his neighbors, Rick and Sharon Sewell, 100 feet away. "It was scary because the fire was right there," Jonathon said in front of his parents' unburned house as ashes drifted from the sky. "Trees were blowing up," he said. "Some lady told me to get off the house and leave." The fire eventually scrambled around two sides of Jonathon's home and into the back yard, burning a tool shed 15 feet from the house. Don Hickman, District 3 deputy fire marshal, said two more homes, including the Shonks', might have burned. Only the Sewells' was confirmed destroyed. He also said 30 out-buildings, such as chicken coops and barns, were destroyed by the blaze. No injuries were reported. The fire started at around 4 p.m. and was 90 percent contained by 9 p.m. Monday. Dan Thorpe, Medford unit forester for the Oregon Department of Forestry, said he expected the fire to be controlled sometime today. A Jackson County sheriff's dispatcher said the fire started in a barn in the 8000 block of West Evans Creek Road and spread to surrounding fields. Several neighbors said the barn belonged to Conrad Hoff. Hickman said the fire's cause is unknown but under investigation. Hickman said officials evacuated a half-mile area between Queens Branch Road and East and West Evans Creek roads. Jonathon said he was at a friend's house a mile away when his friend's mom said she saw smoke. He ran home, called his dad, John Shonk, and did what he could to protect the home. Shonk said he thinks preventive measures helped save his house. "I always thought that if a fire did happen, it would spread quickly," Shonk said. "That's why I cut all the dry grass low (around the house)." Jonathon's mom, Sheryl, said she had a sick feeling that Jonathon was in the house when she heard about the fire. Authorities assured her he was not but would not let her approach the house. "I was crying, I was screaming," she said with mascara spread under her eyes. "Thank God my kids are all right." Jonathon said he feels bad for his neighbors, whom he has known since he was little. But while he watched the fire approach his home, he was afraid of becoming homeless. "I saw my house almost go up in flames," he said with tears in his eyes. "I like this house. My parents worked really hard for it." Reach reporter J.T. Bushnell at 776-4487. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.