Three alarm blaze burned 48 acres, threatened homes
From our weekly issue dated August 26, 2009
Wildfire
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Reported at 4 p.m. by residents in the 1000 block of Lone Mountain Road, the blaze, propelled by breezy conditions, moved briskly through the brush and trees between the road and the West Fork of the Illinois River.
Some 48 acres were reported burned in the fire. No homes were burned, however a garage, pump house and another outbuilding were reportedly destroyed.
No injuries were reported, however a dog died in the fire.
Illinois Valley Fire District personnel responded to the scene after the 4 p.m. alarm, and almost immediately, Chief Harry Rich issued a second alarm and began calling for reinforcements from surrounding agencies. Structural units from Grants Pass Dept. of Public Safety, Rural/Metro Fire District, and apparatus from Jackson County protected homes in the area while Oregon Dept. of Forestry, and U.S. Forest Service crews tackled the wild fire.
Three helicopters equipped with “bambi buckets” dropped water on the fire repeatedly. Also, a tanker aircraft bombarded the area with retardant.
Josephine County Sheriff’s Office personnel also were on scene, limiting non-fire residential traffic well into the night.
On Tuesday morning, engines, water tenders, a bulldozer and other equipment remained mustered at IVFD’s O’Brien station to tackle remaining hot spots.
The cause is still under investigation.
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