Small Town News

Forest fire burns nearly 300 acres by Monday

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Firefighters were working Monday to establish fire lines on the north and west sides of the Canal Creek Fire, which has burned nearly 300 acres eight miles southwest of Detroit and 21 miles northeast of Sweet Home.

Officials reported Monday that the fire was 10 percent contained. They said they were relying more on helicopters on the south and east sides of the blaze. Some of the fire line was being constructed directly against burned areas, while in very steep areas firefighters are constructing lines along nearby ridges or creeks. Because of the heavy dead and down timber in the area and deep-rooted fuels, officials said they were not igniting between the lines and the fire.

Special attention was being paid to the spot fires and lines being constructed on the northern fire flank due to the threat to private forest land to the north. Also, in anticipation of annual easterly winds experienced in this geographic area, increased effort was being made to secure the western side of the fire.

Approximately 250 firefighters stayed near the fire in "spike camps" Sunday night to minimize driving time from fire camp and to reduce travel exposure along the crowded Quartzville recreation corridor. Some crews and overhead were being demobilized or reassigned to other fires as segments of fire line were being completed.

Imagery taken over the weekend confirmed that the Canal Creek Fire is 283 acres rather than the larger acreage reported previously. The cause of the blaze is unknown.

A 14-mile segment of the Quartzville Road (FS Rd 11) was closed to public use Monday and bowhunters were being warned over the weekend to stay out of the area, officials said.

Lewis Creek Park was closed to the public Thursday and set up as a fire camp and operations base for crews. The park will be closed until further notice, officials said.

Fire officials said they were concerned about the warming and drying weather through Wednesday of this week.

A total of 602 personnel, including 18 crews and Sweet Home Ranger District personnel, were working on the fire Monday, in addition to six helicopters, seven engines and two bulldozers.

"Heavy fuels plus low-lying moss-covered branches yield the perfect "ladder" conditions for fire to climb into the crowns of the old growth Douglas fir trees," said Fire Behavior Analyst Roddy Baumann.



Copyright 2009 The New Era, Sweet Home, Oregon. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2009 The New Era Sweet Home, Oregon. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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