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> By Sam Wheeler Mail Tribune September 13. 2014 8:02PM Blaze erupts in mountains west of Grants Pass A wildfire erupted Saturday in the area of Onion Mountain about 25 miles west of Grants Pass.  The fire, which was estimated at about 15 acres Saturday morning, had grown to about 50 acres Saturday evening, said Scott Blower, a public affairs officer from the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest Grants Pass office.  "They were able to hold it in check for a while, but in in the mid-to-late afternoon the wind picked up and that changed," Blower said. "That whole area around Onion Mountain is quite steep, quite rugged ... we do have a road system up there but it is also very brushy." Blower said smokejumpers, rappellers, engine crews, helicopters and air tankers were dispatched to the fire when it was discovered at about 9 a.m. Saturday, but all of the ground support personnel were disengaged from the fire because of safety concerns after the winds picked up. "They are reassessing their strategy for first thing in the morning," he said. "I am sure as they redevelop their strategy whatever resources they need they will order." Blower said a large column of smoke coming off the fire was clearly visible from Grants Pass throughout Saturday. The fire is believed to be human-caused. The cause is still under investigation.   http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20140913/NEWS/140919815 © 2015 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement -->