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Charred acres to be restored Mail Tribune / Jim Craven Jackson County Expo Center director Chris Borovansky walks through the rubble left after an intense fire burned 25 acres of brush and junk dumped along Bear Creek this summer. The area is being replanted with native grasses and trees. By JILL BRISKEY Mail Tribune CENTRAL POINT - What a fire destroyed, a community has vowed to restore. Jackson County, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, civic groups and businesses have joined forces to repair charred habitat near the fairgrounds and county exposition park. An August blaze behind the Family Fun Center just south of the fairgrounds burned 25 acres of brush and trees on both sides of Bear Creek. No homes were damaged by the fire, which ignited when juveniles played with a lighter near a transient camp. "The fire was devastating. It did an extensive amount of damage," said Fairgrounds director Chris Borovansky. "(The land) was pretty much trashed." Before the blaze, the publicly owned property was populated with cottonwood trees and shrubs. Blackberry bushes were rampant, covering junker cars and large appliances. The area was also a popular spot for transient camps. After months of planning and research, county officials have a restoration plan for the land. Many of the burned trees and junk were removed in December, and the area was seeded with grass. A variety of native trees and shrubs - including maple and alder - will be planted in early spring, said Karen Smith, a county employee who works on Bear Creek Greenway projects. "We were really quite concerned about the habitat and the health of the creek," Smith said. "We wanted to do the right thing." County officials also met with Oregon Fish and Wildlife representatives, asking for help on habitat and creek restoration. "There are a few people in the community who think we've done something wrong (by removing the burned trees)," Smith said. "We don't intend to landscape it. We want to restore the area to what it should be." Smith said as the project progressed, other agencies and businesses volunteered to help. The total cost of the project is not yet available. "It's been one of the coolest groups I've ever been involved with," Borovansky said. "People just call up and say what can we do to help," Smith said. "It's just really heartwarming to see." As the project continues and spring rolls around, Smith will seek help with planting from school groups and Eagle Scouts. Anyone interested in the planning process can get more information from Borovansky at 774-8270 or Smith at 774-6231. Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.