A small wildfire that appeared in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest over the weekend was the largest one on U.S. Forest Service (USFS) lands so far this year in southwest Oregon, according to the agency. Still, the fire did not grow larger than 1.5 acres.
The "Black Fire" started near the Illinois River Road on the Wild Rivers Ranger District, and came up on smoke detection cameras operated by the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) around 3 p.m. on Saturday.
Forestry officials started an aggressive attack — sending in four members of the Siskiyou Rappellers followed by two wildland fire engines, one heavy and one medium helicopter, and a fire prevention officer with an engine. The Gold Beach Ranger District also lent an engine to the effort.