Q&A with OPB reporter Kristian Foden-Vencil
Geoff Norcross: So just how bad is this fire now?
Kristian Foden-Vencil: Well, it’s destroyed 20 outbuildings, 13 vehicles and five homes. A Level 3 mandatory evacuation order was in place for 3,400 homes. That's been dropped to level 2 now as firefighters have made some progress and the weather has turned more cooperative. But in total, up to 4,000 people have been affected.
Over the last couple days, lower temperatures, higher humidity and cooler air off the coast have helped. There’s even a bit of rain this morning. But emergency crews say it’s going to be October by the time the fire is out. And, as you know, five miles is not very far for a fire to travel if conditions turn bad.
GN: Six weeks is a long time to fight a fire that’s still 0 percent contained. Are there any exacerbating factors?
GN: I understand the Red Cross has set up a relief shelter.
GN: What are conditions on the ground in towns like Brookings and Gold Beach?
GN: What’s the prognosis over the next few days?
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Kristian Foden-Vencil
/Staff serves food to Chetco Bar Fire evacuees at the Red Cross Relief Center, housed in an elementary school in Gold Beach, Oregon.
Kristian Foden-Vencil
/Ford and Monica Williams seek shelter at the Red Cross Relief Center in Gold Beach, Oregon. They got no evacuation warning and had to leave their home at 7 p.m. Sunday evening as the fire raced towards it.
