Two Oregon wildfires force evacuations

PORTLAND, Ore. (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.

Estimates of the impact varied from a few dozen people to as many as 60.

In the Southern Oregon fire, officials reported that crews bulldozed a line around it, but erratic winds caused numerous small fires outside the boundary.

Gov. Ted Kulongoski invoked the state's Conflagration Act, which allows the state fire marshal to mobilize firefighters and equipment from around the state to defend life and property.

Virginia Gibbons of the Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center in Prineville Crescent Lake Junction was evacuated as well as nearby campgrounds, the East Odell Lodge, the Diamond Peak subdivision and summer homes at Crescent and Odell lakes.

In all, about 120 people had to leave.

Shop owner Jon Ditgen witnessed the large flames, telling KTVZ-TV the fire erupted when 40 mph winds arrived.

"You could feel the wind, you could hear the wind, and the sound of the flames sounded like turbo jets taking off," Ditgen said. "And it fanned the whole fire and just exploded."

Tavern owner Maury Anderson said the fire spread in a matter of minutes, and his business was lucky to not get burned.

"I've been up here for 17 years," he said. "I never had anything come this close."

The fire erupted amid a warning for hot, dry weather that can bring extreme fire behavior. Gibbons said the blaze is believed to be human caused, and it is under investigation.

A Red Cross shelter has been set up at the community center in Crescent. 
     
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)