Conditions continue to hamper firefighting efforts

Text Size: A | A | A

Print this Article Email this Article

August 08, 2009

By Paul Fattig

Mail Tribune

The misty cloud cover cloaking the higher elevations of Jackson and Josephine counties in recent days has helped and hindered firefighters battling lightning-caused wildfires.

"We've had recon flights up but, given the low ceiling in places, it's difficult for them to do their work in some areas," said Paul Galloway, spokesman for the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.

"But the precipitation we've gotten, scattered but significant in places, along with higher humidities and much cooler temperatures, has reduced the fire danger from a week ago when we were dealing with 100-degree plus temperatures," he added.

Since lightning storms began pounding the region on Aug. 1, an estimated 80 wildfires have popped up in the forest, he said, although most of them have been either contained by fire lines or already mopped up.

The largest is the 45-acre Golden Stairs fire just west of Union Creek, which was looped by a fire line Friday afternoon.

"It's been stubborn," Galloway said. "The ground is real steep with heavy fuel and lots of large trees. Some of the line is indirect. That means we will be burning out from the line back to the main body of fire."

That process will take several more days, he predicted.

Reconnaissance flights will continue, and the fire lookouts will keep their eyes peeled for "sleeper" fires as the weather clears, he said.

"They'll be looking for smokes laying on the ground," he said. "We're thinking there are still some fires out there we haven't found yet."

About 350 firefighters, 30 engines and a half-dozen helicopters are working on the fires, largely across northern Jackson County and in Josephine County.

"We also have additional equipment available," Galloway said. "We're in pretty darn good shape."

Meanwhile, the eight people who evacuated their homes and a fishing lodge while firefighters fought the roughly 6,500-acre Williams fire along the North Umpqua River were allowed back early Friday, according to Howard Hunter, a spokesman for the Medford Bureau of Land Management and part of a combined agency team working on the fire. Highway 138 between Susan Creek Campground and the Steamboat Inn has also reopened.

Hunter agreed with Galloway that the cool and humid weather has both been a blessing and a curse for firefighters trying to put out the fire in the Umpqua National Forest.

Firefighters expect to have the fire contained by Aug. 16, he said.

The National Weather Service office at the Medford airport is calling for clearing with highs in the 80s through Monday in Jackson and western Josephine counties.

Reach reporter Paul Fattig at 776-4496 or e-mail him at pfattig@mailtribune.com.

Reader Reaction We welcome your feedback on this story, or any follow-up story ideas you might have. Please send a letter to the editor to letters@mailtribune.com, or submit story ideas online here. When submitting a letter to the editor, please review our submissions policy.

Print this Article Email this Article