MEDFORD, Ore., July 30 (UPI) -- Thousands of resident of a southwest Oregon valley remained on alert to evacuate their homes late Tuesday as they closely watched the winds for a slight shift in direction that could send two massive wildfires bearing down on their neighborhoods.
The northerly winds fanning the Sour Biscuit and Florence Fires in the Siskiyou National Forest were a relatively moderate 5-15 miles per hour Tuesday, however the weather forecast warned that the breeze could shift to the northwest by Wednesday, which would push the fires southeast toward small towns and dozens of homes stretched along Highway 199.
"Then we would have to do major structure protection," said Fire Information Officer Tom Valluzzi. "That's where the homes are all located."
The two fires were burning about three miles apart and had the entire population of the Illinois River Valley -- between 16,000 and 28,000 folks -- on alert to be ready to get out within 30 minutes of being notified that the fire was approaching.
"It put up some smoke today, but it is not moving as fast as it was the last couple of days," Valluzzi told United Press International. "What we are concerned about is that the winds could change tomorrow. That could get it in line with Cave Junction and O'Brien."
Bulldozers and fire engines from across Oregon were parked near homes along the highway and standing by to plow out firebreaks and snuff out flying embers should the flames get too close.
Thus far, the Florence Fire and Sour Biscuit blaze have not burned together, but low humidity and rugged terrain have left both fires virtually out of control and spreading.
Smoke from the fire cleared enough Tuesday that firefighters were able to do a more complete aerial survey of the fire, which resulted in much larger revised acreage figures of 32,700 acres for the Sour Biscuit and 141,600 for the Florence.
Another fast-moving fire that started Monday in Southern California forced the evacuation of more than 300 residences near the mountain town of Julian. The Pines Fire grew to more than 5,000 acres by Tuesday afternoon and had consumed five homes and three other structures seven structures.
"It's right there," California Department of Forestry spokeswoman Martie Perkins told UPI. "The communities that are threatened are right along the main drag into Julian."
There were media reports in San Diego that the fire was apparently started Monday afternoon when a California National Guard helicopter clipped a power line while searching the heavily wooded mountains for signs of clandestine marijuana patches.
More than 1,700 firefighters were engaged in the firefighting effort while volunteers helped haul horses and other animals out of the area, including more than a dozen wolves from a sanctuary just outside Julian.
California Gov. Gray Davis ordered state officials to dispatch another 95 fire engines from around Southern California to the Julian area.
"As long as that threat exists, the state will devote all necessary resources to assist those crews on the front line," Davis said in a statement.
Elsewhere, the McNalley Fire near the Giant Sequoia National Forest was 35-percent contained Tuesday, but had grown to 80,000 acres and was still considered a potential threat to as many as 200 homes.
"Firefighters expect extreme fire activity in areas that have large amounts of fuels that have been smoldering," fire officials said in an update. "Rocky, broken terrain and scattered vegetation is making it difficult to conduct suppression operations."
There were concerns that winds could increase Tuesday afternoon in the canyon area and potentially send the flames spreading in several different directions.
More than 1,500 firefighters had the huge 86,000-acre Tool Box Complex in Oregon's Fremont National Forest 65-percent contained Tuesday, but did not expect full containment until Aug. 7.
In Colorado, Mesa Verde National Park near the New Mexico border was closed due to a 1,600-acre fire that began Monday and quickly destroyed four homes. The lightning-caused blaze also posed a possible threat to ancient Native American ruins dating back to the 1200s.
"We could lose a national treasure that's way beyond my little possessions," park worker Marta Peterson told the Denver Post Monday as she packed up her vehicle and evacuated her Mesa Verde home.
The newspaper noted, however, that large fires in the park in 2000 actually uncovered hundreds of previously unknown sites of interest to archaeologists.
(Reported by Hil Anderson in Los Angeles)
