Wildfires

Wildfires - Oregon

Two wildfires that started over the weekend were threatening scattered rural homes in western Oregon, where forests are critically dry and the weather has been hot.

A fire on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest about 15 miles west of Grants Pass grew to nearly 2,000 acres Monday. Bulldozer crews started building fire line on the northeastern flank to protect some scattered homes along the Rogue River in the Picket Creek area, where Josephine County has warned residents to be ready to leave, fire spokesman Scott Blower said. The fire had about five miles to go before reaching the first of the homes. More crews and equipment were dispatched to fight the fire, which was mapped overnight at 1,954 acres. The cause was under investigation, but there were no reports of lightning over the weekend, making it likely it was human-caused.

On the Mount Hood National Forest about 10 miles east of Estacada, a human-caused wildfire grew to nearly 2,500 acres, prompting the evacuation of about 20 residents of a recreational vehicle park, said spokeswoman Carol Connolly. The city of Estacada was not threatened, but residents of six homes near the fire were warned to start getting ready to leave.