The 315-acre Blackwell Fire will be declared contained at 6:00 p.m. today, said ODF Incident Commander Steve Wetmore. Fire crews have made excellent progress extinguishing residual fires within the containment lines. Night shift crews will continue mop up, with the objective of extinguishing all smokes within 300 feet of the fireline.
Firefighters will continue working on the Blackwell Fire the rest of the week. Smoke will occasionally be visible from within the burned area as islands of remaining fuel burn out.
Rain is expected in the Rogue Valley this weekend – which will help.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Blackwell Fire Caused by Pickaxe
A landowner using a pickaxe to break a rock accidentally caused the Blackwell Fire, which burned 315 acres on Sunday.
At approximately 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, the landowner was using a pickaxe to split a quartz rock that was 2 feet in diameter. The rock was resting in a recently mowed area on the landowner’s property. The landowner wanted to break the rock into smaller pieces so he could move them to a different location. However, a spark caused by the pickaxe striking the rock started a fire in the dry grass clippings.
The landowner attempted to stomp out the fire while his wife dialed 9-1-1.
The facts of the incident support that the landowner will not be held liable for the cost of suppressing this fire. The investigation revealed that no Oregon Department of Forestry fire prevention regulations were violated, and that the landowners took reasonable and prudent action upon discovery of the fire. Oregon law only allows the Department of Forestry to recover suppression costs if a responsible party is found to be willful, malicious or negligent in the origin or spread of a fire.
The home that burned in the fire was owned by the person who accidentally caused the fire.
At approximately 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, the landowner was using a pickaxe to split a quartz rock that was 2 feet in diameter. The rock was resting in a recently mowed area on the landowner’s property. The landowner wanted to break the rock into smaller pieces so he could move them to a different location. However, a spark caused by the pickaxe striking the rock started a fire in the dry grass clippings.
The landowner attempted to stomp out the fire while his wife dialed 9-1-1.
The facts of the incident support that the landowner will not be held liable for the cost of suppressing this fire. The investigation revealed that no Oregon Department of Forestry fire prevention regulations were violated, and that the landowners took reasonable and prudent action upon discovery of the fire. Oregon law only allows the Department of Forestry to recover suppression costs if a responsible party is found to be willful, malicious or negligent in the origin or spread of a fire.
The home that burned in the fire was owned by the person who accidentally caused the fire.
Blackwell Fire 25 Percent Contained
The Blackwell Fire remains at 315 acres and is 25 percent contained. Night shift crews report that good progress was made on mop-up. No slopovers or flare-ups occurred.
Today, 125 firefighters will continue mopping up. Of particular concern is a steep, partially burned area on the north flank of the fire. Numerous smokes are scattered among unburned islands of fuel. Also, crews will continue patrolling and mopping up the slopes below the radio antenna site on top of Blackwell Hill, located in the southeast corner of the fire.
Occasional small columns of smoke will likely rise from the interior of the Blackwell Fire today. In most cases these burn themselves out after a short period of time. If necessary, a helicopter will be used to drop (large) buckets of water onto the flare-ups.
Travelers on the Blackwell Hill Rd. are asked to drive with caution as fire-related traffic will be heavy today.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Today, 125 firefighters will continue mopping up. Of particular concern is a steep, partially burned area on the north flank of the fire. Numerous smokes are scattered among unburned islands of fuel. Also, crews will continue patrolling and mopping up the slopes below the radio antenna site on top of Blackwell Hill, located in the southeast corner of the fire.
Occasional small columns of smoke will likely rise from the interior of the Blackwell Fire today. In most cases these burn themselves out after a short period of time. If necessary, a helicopter will be used to drop (large) buckets of water onto the flare-ups.
Travelers on the Blackwell Hill Rd. are asked to drive with caution as fire-related traffic will be heavy today.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Photo courtesy of Gayle Ellison
Monday, September 13, 2010
Blackwell Fire 20 Percent Contained
Firefighters on the Blackwell Fire, located 1 mile east of Gold Hill and 1 mile north of Interstate 5, made good progress today and completed a fireline around the burned area. The fire is now 20 percent contained and its size is 315 acres.
Crews established hoselays in several sectors and focused on extinguishing burning material within 100 feet of the fireline. Helicopters were used during the afternoon to make water drops on isolated fires within the burned area.
All evacuation advisories were lifted today, and roadblocks on Blackwell Hill Rd. will be removed at 8:00 p.m. tonight.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Crews established hoselays in several sectors and focused on extinguishing burning material within 100 feet of the fireline. Helicopters were used during the afternoon to make water drops on isolated fires within the burned area.
All evacuation advisories were lifted today, and roadblocks on Blackwell Hill Rd. will be removed at 8:00 p.m. tonight.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Blackwell Hill Fire Burns 160 Acres, 1 Structure
The Blackwell Hill Fire broke out just before 4:00 p.m. and quickly burned across an expanse of grass, brush and oak. One structure burned near the point of origin. The fire continued in an easterly direction onto the heavily forested slopes of Blackwell Hill. Three helicopters dropped water and two airtankers delivered retardant onto the fire front until nightfall.
The fire area is approximately 1 mile east of Gold Hill and 1 mile north of Interstate 5.
Homes and other structures in the fire area received protection from firefighters and engines mobilized as part of a structural fire protection task force, composed of personnel and equipment from fire districts in Jackson and Josephine counties.
Wildland fire suppression resources included 7 ODF engines, 4 contractor engines and 6 bulldozers. Additional crews were ordered to assist with fireline construction operations, which will continue through the night.
Blackwell Hill Rd. is open to local residents and fire traffic only. Roadblocks staffed by Jackson County Sheriff Search and Rescue personnel are in place at Kirtland Rd., Gold Ray Rd., Merita Terrace and Foley Rd. An evacuation center has been set up at the Community Bible Church, 500 N. Tenth St., Central Point.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The fire area is approximately 1 mile east of Gold Hill and 1 mile north of Interstate 5.
Homes and other structures in the fire area received protection from firefighters and engines mobilized as part of a structural fire protection task force, composed of personnel and equipment from fire districts in Jackson and Josephine counties.
Wildland fire suppression resources included 7 ODF engines, 4 contractor engines and 6 bulldozers. Additional crews were ordered to assist with fireline construction operations, which will continue through the night.
Blackwell Hill Rd. is open to local residents and fire traffic only. Roadblocks staffed by Jackson County Sheriff Search and Rescue personnel are in place at Kirtland Rd., Gold Ray Rd., Merita Terrace and Foley Rd. An evacuation center has been set up at the Community Bible Church, 500 N. Tenth St., Central Point.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
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