Eureka Times Standard (California)
Copyright 2006 Times - Standard
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Firefighters are keeping a finger in the wind as a wildfire burns toward the village of Somes Bar outside Orleans.
The 11,000-acre Somes Fire continues to burn along State Highway 96 and is moving north toward the Salmon River. Fire crews are hoping to stop the fire at the river, which is only about 1/4-mile from the front edge of the blaze. Fire engines and other resources are in place at most homes along the Salmon River and Somes Bar area, said information officer Phyllis Swanson.
“We are expecting it to get a little bit warmer in the next couple of days,” Swanson said.
Crews are also on the ready should the fire jump toward Somes Bar area houses and businesses, she said. Swanson said the fire is fully staffed and has the required equipment.
Officials do not expect to contain the fire until winter rains set in, and they believe it will grow to 26,000 acres by then.
A fire outside Denny has reached 15,160 acres, and put off a large amount of smoke, which has hampered aerial attacks on the fire. The Bar Complex Fires are considered 35 percent contained.
The Happy Camp Complex fires have burned 3,820 acres. The main fire is the Titus Fire, which is now considered 40 percent contained after a day of light burning.
The Uncles Complex in the Marble Mountains Wilderness is 10,616 acres and 35 percent contained.