Crews work to contain human-caused wildfire near Gold Beach

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Update at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 3

Officials released a statement Tuesday morning, saying the fire is still at 10 percent containment with no additional acres burned.

About 450 firefighters were working two shifts Monday and worked to complete hand and bulldozer lines around the perimeter of the fire.

Update at 9 a.m. on Monday, July 2

The Lobster Creek Fire in southwest Oregon grew to an estimated 450 acres by Monday morning, but officials don't expect it to be a long-term event.

The fire, the largest of the season in Western Oregon so far, is about 12 miles northeast of Gold Beach. It threw up a large smoke column Sunday afternoon that could be seen from the Oregon Coast.

The fire is now about 10 percent contained and is not expected to explode in the same manner as the Chetco Bar Fire, which torched 200,000 acres last summer.

"We're throwing everything we can at it," said Jef Chase with the Coos Forest Protective Association. "It's not expected to be a month's long event. We're hoping to get it buttoned up in a matter of days."

There are currently about 150 people fighting the fire, including bulldozers and air support.

The fire started at the Lobster Creek Youth Campground east of Gold Beach, the Curry County Pilot reported.

The newspaper said the fire led to the evacuation Sunday of around 40 people from the camp, and sheriff personnel spent the afternoon combing the spur roads in the area to alert other outdoor recreationalists, Sheriff’s Capt. Mick Espinoza told the Pilot.

The fire was human-caused — although it's unclear how — and is under investigation, Chase said.

The Oregon Department of Forestry was expected to take over management of the blaze Monday night.

The high winds that caused the fire to grow Sunday died down Monday morning. But officials are keeping a careful eye for their return, Chase said.

"We're still very focused on it," he said. "We're asking the public to please stay out of the area."

The fire is burning in the upper reaches of Lobster Creek, a tributary of the Rogue River, on private timberland and county land.

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ORIGINAL STORY

A human-caused wildfire burning in southwest Oregon grew to an estimated 300 acres Sunday night.

The Lobster Creek Fire, located about 12 miles northeast of Gold Beach, was reported Sunday afternoon but grew quickly, driven by high winds, officials said.

The fire — the largest so far this year in western Oregon — is burning in the upper reaches of Lobster Creek, a tributary of the Rogue River, on private timberland and county land.

Fire teams began attacking the fire around 1:55 p.m. with multiple assets, but the blaze has been difficult to control so far, said Jef Chase with the Coos Forest Protective Association.

“The fire is being really resistant to control efforts, and is sending spot fires out front with the strong winds,” Chase said. “We’re establishing lines where we can hold it, but with steep and narrow canyons, it can get established and run out.

“We had a dry spring and summer, and it’s burning in larger fuels.”

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The fire isn’t currently threatening any structures or populated areas, Chase said.

The fire was human-caused — although it's unclear how — and is under investigation, Chase said.

Four crews are currently fighting the fire, using two dozers and six aircraft. More assets have been ordered, Chase said.

Although small so far, the fire is likely to spark memories of the Chetco Bar Fire, which burned almost 200,000 acres last summer just to the south.

MORE FIRE COVERAGE:

CHETCO BAR FIRE: How a small blaze erupted into Oregon’s largest wildfire

APPROVED: Chetco Bar Fire area get OK for salvage logging by U.S. Forest Service

NEGATIVE EFFECTS: Oregon redwoods 'severely burned' by Chetco Bar Fire

MORE: Campers' charcoal ignites wildfire in Opal Creek area, now contained

Zach Urness has been an outdoors writer, photographer and videographer in Oregon for 10 years. He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6801. Find him on Twitter at @ZachsORoutdoors.