PhotoBlog - rogue-river

Aug

2011

3:50pm, EDT

Jamie Lusch / AP

In this Aug. 18, 2011 photo, an Oregon State Police trooper dodges ash from a fire burning along Interstate 5 near Rogue River, Ore. Gov. John Kitzhaber invoked the state's Emergency Conflagration Act on Thursday evening, ordering police and fire officials to send resources from around the state to fight the North River Road Fire burning near the City of Rogue River.

Wildfire racing across grassland threatens homes, briefly closes I-5

AP reports:

ROGUE RIVER, Ore. — An Oregon Department of Forestry spokesman says a fast-moving wildfire has raced across 300 acres of grassland in southern Oregon near Rogue River, threatening some homes and briefly closing northbound lanes of Interstate 5. Five helicopters and two air tankers dropped water on the blaze before darkness fell Thursday. Spokesman Kevin Weeks says ground crews will be fighting the North River Road Fire overnight.