The Associated Press
AGNESS, Ore.— The Blossom fire backed down to the Rogue River in two places and has burned nearly 8,400 acres, the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center said Tuesday.
Monday was the second day of light fire behavior as firefighters tried to stop it spreading east.
It was one of three fires that began by lightning July 21. The other two are contained.
The Blossom fire grew by about 2,000 acres between Sunday and Monday. About 1,800 firefighters are battling the fire from three base camps in Josephine and Curry counties.
Flames crept down Mule Creek Canyon and hit the Wild and Scenic section of the Rogue at Blossom Bar and a point to the west, fire public-information officer John Zapell said.
He said firefighters had planned on using the river as a fire line.
Jere Mills at the coordination center said the fire report indicated backburning had increased the likelihood that tourist lodges along the river can be spared.
Helicopters with water buckets patrolled the area to douse any fires started by embers flying across the river.
Firefighters planned on Tuesday to concentrate on checking for spot fires and strengthening hand lines dug along the eastern side of the fire.
By late Monday firefighters had dug 16 miles of fire lines and needed 12 more, Zapell said.
Excursion jet boats from Gold Beach were ferrying firefighters into the southern portion of the fire, Zapell said.
The fire is listed as 20 percent contained but there now is no estimated containment date.
The fire has triggered the evacuation of Marial Lodge and a rafting closure to the Rogue’s Wild and Scenic Section during one of the most popular rafting periods of the season.