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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 29, 2005 Evacuations lifted at Deer Creek fire site By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune Cooler weather aided firefighters Sunday as they claimed the upper hand on a 1,636-acre blaze that destroyed five homes near Selma. "It’s 60 percent contained," said Kris Babbs, spokesperson for the Oregon Department of Forestry. "All roads are open. The evacuations have been lifted." Local residents, who have been returning to their homes, are being warned that the fire could still pose a threat. Fire crews had braced for a flare-up Sunday as winds of up to 20 miles per hour threatened to kick things back into high gear. But cooler weather dampened the flames, allowing fire crews the chance to strengthen their lines. The fire gained no new ground Sunday. Advertisement Reinforcements were also brought in, swelling the number of firefighters to 1,500, a 50 percent increase over Saturday. Eleven helicopters have doused hot spots, 12 bulldozers have strengthened fire lines around structures and more than 30 fire engines are at the scene. Because the fire has ebbed, Babbs said it has been producing less smoke, leaving skies clearer after a heavy inversion layer choked the Rogue Valley Thursday. While much of the fire has been contained, Babbs said it’s too early to say when it might be fully contained. "I don’t want to forecast because fire is very unpredictable," she said, adding, however, "It is less of a threat." The Deer Creek fire erupted Thursday in a grassy area near a vineyard, pushing east along Deer Creek Road and engulfing a heavily forested area about four miles northeast of Selma. In addition to the five houses, the fire destroyed seven outbuildings and damaged two other homes and six outbuildings. It also destroyed several vehicles. The fire has been burning on private and Bureau of Land Management land. It is east of the 2002 Biscuit fire, which consumed 500,000 acres in the Rogue-River-Siskiyou National Forest. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail Evacuations lifted at Deer Creek fire site ">[email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy online casino Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Reservationstogo Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Natto Kinase Nattokinase Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Investments & Loans Advertisement s