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As Chetco Bar Fire Rages On, Personnel Safeguard Buildings and Some Locals Evacuate

inciweb.nwcg.gov

Roughly 20 wildfires are burning across Oregon, including the Chetco Bar Fire near Brookings, which has destroyed more than 117,000 acres.  As KLCC’s Brian Bull reports, the fire remains uncontained.  

Terry Krasko of the U.S. Forest Service talked to KLCC seven miles from the perimeter of the Chetco Bar Fire.

“It is the number one fire in the country, and the reason it is getting so much attention, is number one the acreage, but of course, also the number one, is the people that it affects.”  

Credit inciweb.nwcg.gov
A fire crew member clears away brush in case the Chetco Fire comes through the area.

Krasko says there are roughly 1600 personnel from at least 20 states battling the blaze.  He says six homes have been destroyed so far, and several levels of evacuation are in effect.

“We have asked people to leave," says Krasko.

"Firefighters are in and amongst those homes along with a lot of law enforcement, to keep those homes safe.  

"They have cleared stuff, set sprinklers, they’ve moved the woodpile, they’ve turned off the propane.  Preparations in case fire did come that direction.”

The Chetco Bar Fire was caused by lightning in July.  Besides destroying acreage and threatening properties, it’s severely affected visibility and air quality in the region.

Copyright 2017, KLCC.

Brian Bull is an assistant professor of journalism at the University of Oregon, and remains a contributor to the KLCC news department. He began working with KLCC in June 2016.   In his 27+ years as a public media journalist, he's worked at NPR, Twin Cities Public Television, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, Wisconsin Public Radio, and ideastream in Cleveland. His reporting has netted dozens of accolades, including four national Edward R. Murrow Awards (22 regional),  the Ohio Associated Press' Best Reporter Award, Best Radio Reporter from  the Native American Journalists Association, and the PRNDI/NEFE Award for Excellence in Consumer Finance Reporting.
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