Fire closes Hwy. 138, threatens homes
The Rattle Fire burned through an area previously burned in the 1990s, putting up lots of smoke. Cooler, wet weather helped calm the fire and smoke, but drier, warmer conditions could put more smoke back up in the air. By KVAL Web StaffROSEBURG, Ore. -- Firefighters took on two new fires while contending with an invigorated Rattle Fire, now burning on 2,238 and zero percent contained. The Rattle Fire poses a risk to 28 homes in the Dry Creek area. Residents are on stand-by evacuation notice and without power. The owner of powerlines serving the area turned off the electricity to protect firefighters, who are working to protect homes and electric utility property. Highway 138 remains closed at mileposts 49 through 59. Travelers should check with the Oregon Department of Transportation for the latest on the closure. As of Monday morning, there was no estimated time for the highway to re-open. Firefighters are attacking the two new fires. One of the new fires was caused by lightning in August and not previously detected. The other is human-caused and under investgation. One fire is out, the other is 3 acres and under attack by two helicopters, firefighter heli-rappellers and a 20-person hotshot crew. All other resources on the Umpqua National Forest are working the Rattle Fire, which until this weekend was burning uncontained inside a perimeter set up around the Boulder Creek Wilderness. The fire camp moved from Glide to the Toketee Airstrip. The steep terrain makes firefighting by ground crews difficult, leaving aircraft to dump water on the fire. |
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