Fast Moving Fire Scorches Ashland

pogo, 21.09.2009 20:32

A fast burning fire is sending smoke into the air as fire crews from around Southern Oregon rush to combat it.

Bomber dropping retardent on fast burning fire

Smoke over ashland at around 10:30 am

From Tolman Creek Rd. - 12:30 pm

From Siskiyou Blvd. and Tolman Creek Rd. - 12:30 pm

Tolman Creek Rd. around 12:30 pm

Smoke above Walker Elementary

The Medford Mail Tribune website reports that the fire broke out at mid-morning near the intersection of Siskiyou Boulevard and Crowson Road and swept into the hills, pushed by gusty winds out of the south east.

The Rogue Valley Structural Task Force, a cooperative effort involving multiple fire departments, has been activated to protect buildings. Two air tankers are dropping fire retardant around the blaze and four or five helicopters are dumping water on it.

Fire officials warned people to stay away from the area to make way for the growing number of firefighters working in the area. Siskiyou Boulevard is closed south of Tolman Creek Road and Tolman Creek Road is also closed at Siskiyou. The northbound off-ramp at Interstate 5's exit 11 is closed, and transportation officials warned that heavy smoke could slow traffic on the freeway.

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Fire Hotline 21.09.2009 - 20:39 The city of Ashland has a wildfire hotline for people to call to get updates on the fire. It is 552-2490. pogo> Homepage:: http:// Fire General Information update 21.09.2009 - 22:27 City officials have activated the Emergency Operations Center in the Ashland City Council Chambers. We will be updating the public as more information becomes available. Jackson County Fire is in-charge of the fire scene and all available resources are being utilized for fire supression. Jackson County has activated their fire EOC on-scene. Students have been evacuated from Belview Elementary School and all classes at Belview Elementary are cancelled for tomorrow, Tuesday, September 22, 2009. No other school closures are being reported at this time. Evacuations are voluntary at this time. Anyone who does evacuate may gather at the Baptist Church on Terra and Siskiyou. The fire is currently 80-100 acres with 24 fire aparatus dedicated to fighting the fire. Multiple structures have suffered damage and it is believed that one struture has been lost. Additional information will be released shortly. Please tune to AM 1700 for additional information or contact the Wildfire Information Line at 552-2490. 2:45 PM According to the Jackson County Website we have the following additional details: Evacuations have been put in place for the following areas: Tolman Creek Road - addresses 1300 through 3530 Morninglight - all addresses Timberlake Drive and Terrace - all addresses Lupine Drive - addresses 2200, 2260, and 2285 All streets south of Bellview Bellview Elementary School (Ashland School District Office phone number is 482-2811 for more information on this item.) Pacific Power has turned off the power for safety precautions in some of the affected areas. This is a preventative measure and was a planned outage. Oregon Governor Kulongoski granted a Confligration Act order at 12:52 PM which releases state resources to assist. Respite Center is set up at Baptist Church at Siskiyou and Tara, operated by Ashland CERT. Red Cross is setting up an additional Respite Center at the Ashland Armory. For further information regarding shelter, please call the Jackson County Emergency Operations Center at (541) 776-7338. City of Ashland> Homepage:: http:// Fire may be under control as of 6:40pm 22.09.2009 - 13:51 As of 6:40pm the fire was supposedly out or at least under control. Interestly enough there was also a huge fire in South Medford that could be seen in Ashland around 4pm. A fire in talent broke out too. ashlander> Homepage:: http://