Wildfires, An Equal Opportunity Disaster

We're guessing either Thor (Norse) or Zeus (Greek) didn't want Oregon to feel left out this fire season, so he did his thing Monday, Tuesday AND Wednesday. Southern and Central Oregon was pummeled by lightening storms. Many small smokes were put out and crews across the state are still discovering fires from the storms in remote areas. Copco Road, a private gravel/dirt road about 8 miles east from us took a strike that went from 10 acres when spotted at 11:00 a.m. Thursday morning and roared into almost 27,000 acres by Saturday evening. The residents on Copco went from Level 1 to Level 3 ( Ready, Set, GO are the levels), in the space of three hours. Most homes where saved in the 6000-9000 area and then the Oregon Gulch fire headed out for the really remote areas SE into CA and E into Klamath County. Last night a number of remote little roads with homes also went under Level 3 evacuation in Klamath County. At this point in time we are under a Level 1 evacuation order. If it goes to Level 2, I'm moving the horses, Level 3 the dogs and I will head down the mountain. But for now, we're good and the further south and east this fire goes the better it is for us along Highway 66 in the Greensprings.

Needless to say, I am overwhelmed by the sheer number of people who pick up and come to these things. Wildland firefighters are a hardy, generous bunch and we have over 700 of them from all places near and far. For information on this fire and the resources on it here is a link. This site is mostly where everyone goes for updates. Gene is home getting some much needed rest as are all the members of the Greensprings team. They were first on scene with our local ODF station and worked over 30 hours straight ( on a short night since we had little fires on Weds. night they worked on quelling), on the south side of the fire keeping the evacuees safe in a large irrigated field while they fought to save 6 surrounding homes Thursday night.

The irony of fire season in the dry west; the Oregon Gulch fire is spreading into CA, The CA fire at Happy Camp is moving slowly towards Oregon. I guess you get to give as good as you get.

So, you want to see some pictures? :)

Fire from our front deck, Thursday afternoon.

 Copco Road closure complete with massive smoke plume. It was only at around 1,100 at this time.

 Lots air support.

And lots of smoke if the wind changes.

 Communications are very important.

 Along Copco Road after the fire.

 Fall Creek Ranch, where residents were evacuated too. This area along Copco has numerous springs and marshes. While the property is solar and generator power only they have made good use of the wet conditions with many ponds, streams and irrigation canals. Check out the Hughie Helicopter in the last of the series, scooping water from a fire pond. The smoke plume is quite apparent in a couple of the pics.

 Parting shot: All will be well.