Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Since You Asked: Crater Lake fire hasn't affected visitors so far Learn about using a tablet or e-reader at Jackson County libraries Art therapy offered for cancer patients Jackson County middle schools offer hands-only CPR training Still stifling laughter 40 years after 'Young Frankenstein' Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency Services Volunteers needed to sort clothing in Weed Rain expected in Jackson County Wednesday, Thursday Police looking for driver of crashed, abandoned car Medford man killed in car crash outside Cottage Grove Politics and Elections Southern Oregon's Dennis Richardson woos liberal Portland Matthew T. Mangino: Federal government complicit in militarization of police Jim Brock: You go, Madam Senator Mark L. Hopkins: What the next election should be about Senate race could be expensive Education Some say anti-bullying program goes too far Phoenix man is Oregon's History Teacher of the Year Controversial book spurs battle at school board meeting K-12 enrollment up countywide, except for Medford Homework matters Environment Bringing back the monarchs New disease strikes Roseburg deer herds Dredgers might return to the Rogue next year Dubs' auction preview draws bidders and gawkers OR-7's pups are true wolves State news Nation - World Obituaries Steve Bankston Jacqueleine Therese McFadden Death Notices Elsie M. Sakraida Bessie Ritter Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories Life lessons come in many forms Bears hold on to defeat Jets 49ers’ Harbaugh eyeing some quick fixes Owner: ‘No misinformation’ by Ravens on Rice Helfrich marvels at Mariota’s play Varsity 541 College Sports 49ers’ Harbaugh eyeing some quick fixes Allen emerges as one of Oregon’s top targets With Bolden out, other Oregon State receivers step up Hail Mary sends Arizona to 49-45 win over Cal Tebow’s advice for Winston: Be a better leader Pro Sports Bears hold on to defeat Jets Owner: ‘No misinformation’ by Ravens on Rice Helfrich marvels at Mariota’s play Concern over McIlroy, McDowell more about results Ugly Ending Community Sports Barry fires back into SOGC finals Super seniors strong at SOGC Crenshaw pulls off upset in SOGC Murphy claims victory in Stroke Play Championships Business Latest Stories Mt. Ashland sets forth plan for season Medford's Pixel Productions moves to new quarters Blog: Fall Into a New Season Tenants begin moving into One West Main Mike and Laura Naumes named First Citizens Real Estate News Medford's Pixel Productions moves to new quarters Tenants begin moving into One West Main Purchasers praise Harry & David's turnaround Historic building owners get lessons in restoration Pleasant weather, stable interest rates spurred summer home sales People In Business Transportation Agriculture Purchasers praise Harry & David's turnaround 1-800-Flowers.com buying Harry & David for $142.5 million Earlier than normal pear harvest coming up short of expectations Weisinger's Winery has earliest crush on record Amy's Kitchen begins expansion in White City Opinion Latest Granlund cartoon: Marijuana laws Thumbs up to Art+Sound; down to Kitzhaber Letters to the Editor, Sept. 23 Measuring the value of a human life Granlund cartoon: White House security Editorials Thumbs up to Art+Sound; down to Kitzhaber Our view: City should ease up on alcohol ban Impaired voting; Whether driving high increases accidents isn’t known Without tax reform, state faces bleak future Expand, but don't neglect affordable housing Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Sept. 23 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 22 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 21 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 19 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 18 Guest Opinions Manor residents give in many ways Transparency is essential in O&C debate Hazardous fuel treatments vital to protection from severe wildfires Wilderness for Kalmiopsis has served us well Lifestyle Latest stories Seniors get in the groove with ukuleles Blog: HAIKU MONDAY: On Meat Fishing the Rogue Bay Community blog: Menopause: What's it Good For? Part 2 The Arts — Alive and, Well? Anniversary: Fischer Food Community blog: Low oven setting yields easy 'sun-dried' tomatoes Wholesale program puts Rogue Valley food in aisles Backpack stuffers add zest to fall outings Community blog: Taste cherry tomatoes to judge sweetness, acidity Community blog: Rise to challenge of eating more local tomatoes Home and Garden Start now for a bowl of winter sunshine Counting the reasons to keep your eating local Medford gardens to be showcased Saturday Trees aren't always the best companions for plants Hot tips for a cool (shade) garden Health Community blog: Menopause: What's it Good For? Part 2 For the brain, there’s no such thing as over the hill Local health clinics land federal grants to hire medical, dental staff Community blog: Do You Love Enough To Heal Your Dog And Cat? To Bring An Elephant To Tears? Community blog: Well...Is It? Hiking Faith Religion briefs Religion Briefs Religion briefs Milestones and Achievements Still stifling laughter 40 years after 'Young Frankenstein' New Arrivals Wedding New Arrivals Barbecue will support treatment for stricken skateboarder Columnist for a Day Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Sol Seed plays Lounge South Blog: 'Gotham': Pace thyself 'Get Giddy' at Porters Danielle Kelly: A Rogue Valley Experience Volunteers needed for Downtown Art + Sound Theater 'Mrs. Mannerly' is a matter of manners There's no accounting for poor manners Friends of Jim Giancarlo remember Ashland theater icon OCT's Ginger Rogers tribute sparkles 'Cocktail Hour' shows at the Craterian Theatre Music Sol Seed plays Lounge South Danielle Kelly: A Rogue Valley Experience Gonzalo Bergara at Paschal Winery The Human Revolution plays Applegate Lodge Holly Theatre hosts its first public event in 28 years Community Events Volunteers needed for Downtown Art + Sound Medford's Third Fridays Downtown Art + Sound Festival Oregon Poet Laureate Peter Sears reads in Ashland Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Dining 'Get Giddy' at Porters Jacksonville's Thai House is everything good Thai should be Ami Sushi serves up Asian dishes Wild River Brewing & Pizza Co. Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Grants Pass man dies in shootout with police ... Volunteers needed to sort clothing in Weed ... Rain expected in Jackson County Wednesday, Thursday ... Grants Pass man dies in shootout with police ... Volunteers needed to sort clothing in Weed ... Rain expected in Jackson County Wednesday, Thursday ... JOSEPHINE COUNTY Onion Mountain fire "still hot and active" Rain helped, but temps rising again By Shaun Hall Grants Pass Daily Courier MailTribune.com By Shaun Hall Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Sep. 19, 2014 @ 4:17 pm Updated Sep 19, 2014 at 5:56 PM By Shaun Hall Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Sep. 19, 2014 @ 4:17 pm Updated Sep 19, 2014 at 5:56 PM » RELATED CONTENT • Crews get Onion Mountain fire 20 percent contained • Weather helps firefighters in battle to contain 4,000-acr... • Onion Mountain fire 5 percent contained, passes 3,700-acr... • Onion Mountain fire now at 1,950 acres • Blaze erupts in mountains west of Grants Pass » Social News MERLIN — Wednesday's rain helped dampen the Onion Mountain Fire. But temperatures are due to rise this weekend, and the fire is far from extinguished. "We've got 4,000 acres of fire out there," Link Smith of the Oregon Department of Forestry told a crowd of about 140 people Thursday night during a fire information meeting at Fleming Middle School near Merlin. "It's still hot and active," warned Mark Glos, a U.S. Forest Service fire operations manager. As of Friday morning, Level 1 evacuation advisories for Limpy Creek Road and Riverbanks Road were lifted, but all other evacuation advisories remain the same. Level 1 means be ready to go. Fire lines now surround the east side of the fire, which is about 20 percent contained. As of Thursday, 13 helicopters and about 800 firefighters were battling the blaze. On Thursday, skies were mostly clear of smoke in Grants Pass, and temperatures were cooler than earlier in the week. A temperature inversion kept the fire's smoke close to the ground, hampering some fire suppression operations from aircraft, Glos said. The fire was reported early Saturday on U.S. Forest Service land near Onion Mountain, west of Grants Pass. Winds and heat fueled a rapid spread, although Wednesday's rain and cooler weather helped slow it. "A big opportunity was handed us with the weather," Smith said. "The weather changed at the perfect time." Perhaps it was just a coincidence that Phillip Hendrix and his wife did a rain dance out on their deck the day before the raindrops fell. They got a round of applause from the crowd for their efforts. Their home is in the Pickett Creek area, northeast of the fire. The Onion Mountain Fire is centered in an area about six miles southwest of Robertson Bridge. Residents of about 430 homes in the greater Riverbanks Road area have been advised to be ready to leave, if needed.  Temperatures are forecast to jump back into the 90s Saturday and Sunday. The National Weather Service forecast winds to shift back from the east Saturday night, so smoke could continue to be an issue in the Grants Pass area.  The fire probably started late Friday or early Saturday, and was reported at 8:35 a.m. Saturday, the audience was told. A helicopter was on scene in about 20 minutes, and ground crews headed that direction immediately. Extremely dry conditions, coupled with rugged terrain, caused the fire to spread quickly.  "Any ignition had the opportunity to get large really fast," said Shawn Sheldon, a Forest Service employee and the fire's deputy incident commander.  Initial firefighting efforts were on the fire's east side, closest to homes about five miles away.  "We threw everything we had on this side," Sheldon said. "Aviation was a huge help to us. The helicopters helped us out tremendously."  Fire retardant drops helped save communications equipment and a fire lookout atop Onion Mountain. The fire swept east Saturday and Sunday and then swung north.  "The fire is swinging on us," Glos said. "It's trying to go north."  Some firefighters have been directed into canyons, Glos said. "Mine shafts, insects, poison oak," he said. "Why everybody doesn't want to be a firefighter, I don't know."  Logging roads have been widened, brush is being cleared and chipped, and portable water tanks and miles of fire hose are being brought in. Bulldozers, fire trucks and brush cutters are being used.  "We have a lot of equipment out there," Glos said.  He guaranteed nothing, but said, "It is looking pretty darn good."   By Shaun Hall Grants Pass Daily Courier MailTribune.com By Shaun Hall Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Sep. 19, 2014 @ 4:17 pm Updated Sep 19, 2014 at 5:56 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501