Onion Mountain fire Tuesday 9-16 2 p.m. update: Officials said firefighters have gained a small foothold on the east side of the fire and achieved 2 percent containment. They also said Sam Brown Campground and Horse Camp, Briggs Campground, Myers Campground and portions of Forest Roads 2500, 2509 and 2706 have been closed. The Onion Mountain wildfire in Josephine County grew overnight by a thousand acres, prompting an expansion Tuesday morning of a flight-restricted area near the Grants Pass Airport. Officials expanded the area east toward the airport as the fire grew to nearly 3,000 acres. Helicopter firefighting crews are using the air lane to reach support crews at the airport. About 300 homes in the following areas remain at a level one (be alert!) evacuation advisory: The entire Pickett Creek area, including Pickett Creek Road, West Pickett Creek Road and all roads off of those. Everything north of the Robertson Bridge on the west side of the Rogue River. All of the Shan Creek Road system from Riverbanks Road to the west. Riverbanks Road from Limpy Creek Road to the Robertson Bridge. All of Limpy Creek Road system from Riverbanks Road to the west. All of Taylor Creek Road (FS25 Road) road system from Galice Road, including connection to the 2509 Road that enters U.S. 199 at the top of Hayes Hill. The flight-restriction area affects pilots traveling between Grants Pass and Illinois Valley airports and those flying in the practice area over Copeland Pond. The Josephine County Sheriffs Office is urging pilots to check the Federal Aviation Administraions website for Notices to Airmen, or NOTAM, before flying. Pilots should also be watching for helicopters between the airport and Robertson Bridge. The office recommends pilots fly inbound to Grants Pass Airport and report overhead for pattern entry, as opposed to flying over the traditional reporting points of Robertson Bridge and Merlin for left hand traffic to runway 31. More than 300 personnel have been deployed to fight the fire, which is 0 percent contained. The sheriffs office also warned Monday about some residents receiving false evacuation order phone calls from someone posing to be a sheriffs representative. The caller is reportedly telling residents that the evacuation levels of the Onion Mountain Fire have changed, and that residents need to leave. The calls are not official orders from the sheriffs office. If a level two (be ready!) or level three evacuation (leave!) notice occurred, the office or Search and Rescue members dressed in uniform would alert residents in person. The sheriffs office will be not be making phone calls, officials said.
Posted on: Tue, 16 Sep 2014 23:05:12 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015