Oregon fire forces evacuations
Thursday, September 18, 2008 10:27 AM PDT
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| Pacific Habitat and Fire firefighters mop up on the Royce Butte fire Wednesday near Crescent Lake, Ore. The wildfire is more than 300-acres in size and forced a voluntary evacuation of the small community Tuesday. The voluntary evacuation and closure of Hwy 58, Willamette Pass, will continue through the night. |
PORTLAND (AP) — Oregonians in two parts of the state have been told to evacuate as the state’s hot, dry September begins to translate into more wildfires.
A wilderness fire that began in early August on Mount Hood roared up again, and the Hood River County sheriff’s department urged residents of two areas to leave their homes.
In Southern Oregon, a wildfire burning in the Deschutes National Forest forced residents in the community of Crescent Lake Junction to evacuate. The 400-acre blaze also closed a 12-mile stretch of Oregon 58. It was expected to remain closed Wednesday.
The fire had been listed as larger but the estimate was lowered when better mapping became available. It is about 10 percent contained.
Fire crews also are battling two remote fires in Southern Oregon, one of which has closed Oregon 138 east of Roseburg.
And crews in Southern Oregon said a night of lightning strikes in the Rogue Valley kept them busy with several small fires.
On Mount Hood, the Gnarl fire gave firefighters fits for much of August as they battled steep terrain and difficult access. Officials said Wednesday that it had rekindled itself.
In the Cooper Spur area, residents were told to evacuate, with a warning that emergency services might not be available if they didn’t.
In the Mountain Shadows area, residents were told to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.
