SCOTTSBURG, Ore. (KMTR) -- The fire was reported at about 1:00 a.m. Tuesday morning and ever since, crews have been fighting the uphill battle, quite literally.
The Jimmy Creek fire broke out along Lutsinger road, near the town of Scottsburg, Oregon. It's blazing on a rocky hillside covered in trees. The area is very steep and posing a lot of issues for crews.
The origin is still unknown, but an investigator is currently searching for clues. Officials believe the fire was caused by man.
There are houses near the area, but crews have set up a series of fire lines they believe will keep residents safe.
Firefighters hope to have the fire completely trailed by nightfall, so it's easier to keep an eye on. Without trails, it would be nearly impossible for crews to navigate the area in the dark.
“That access is the hardest part. It's, you saw all the rocks, comin', rollin' in to the road on your way in,” says John Flannigan with the Coos Forest Protective Association.
“It's very steep, rock bluffs, it's unstable ground, that's the toughest thing,” says Flannigan.
“And with the steep ground, there's a possibility that it could make some runs and, you know, there's some tight draws in there,” he adds.
At 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, Flannigan estimated the fire was 25 percent contained, an improvement from the 10 percent he reported Tuesday morning, but that didn’t stop the fire from spreading. It’s now covering 15 acres.
Crews are already preparing a nightshift and will continue fighting through the night and into Wednesday.
Flannigan asks that no one drive on Lutsinger road unless they absolutely have to. With rocks slides, and the fire just off the roadside, it’s still very unsafe.
