» Blaze kills family’s dog

Wednesday, August 27, 2008 | No comments posted. Fire destroyed a fifth-wheel trailer at the Bandon By the Sea RV Park, 49612 U.S. Highway 101 South, at about 8:15 p.m. on Aug. 15.

Fire Chief Lanny Boston said the approximately 35-foot-long recreational vehicle was fully involved when firefighters arrived.

“The cause of the fire is under investigation, but we know it started in the bedroom area,” he said.

The trailer was a loss, although its owner, Aleshia Martin, “may have been able to salvage some personal belongings,” Boston said.

Martin’s dog was in the trailer at the time of the fire and died in the blaze.

Lightning fires The Coos Forest Protective Association said firefighters throughout southern Oregon worked around the clock last weekend to locate and douse numerous lightning-caused blazes.

On Saturday night, CFPA responded to a fire east of Coquille that burned about one-tenth of an acre.

A fire about eight miles east of Bandon, off state Highway 42S, consumed about one-tenth of an acre before being extinguished Sunday afternoon.

CFPA also sent assistance to the Douglas Forest Protective Association, which was working on 22 fires at the first of the week.

“Firefighters are optimistic with cooler temperatures and the chance of wetting rain over the next couple of days,” CFPA’s Tom Fields said Monday.

He cautioned, however, that with several hundred reported lightning strikes last weekend, fire managers will remain on the lookout for sleeper fires — blazes that smolder deep within forest canopies until warmer weather and wind wake them up.  The general public is advised to take extra caution when working or recreating outdoors.

“We need everyone to do their part to prevent human caused fires during this thunderstorm activity period,” Fields said.

“Resources throughout our district and the state are pretty well committed to putting out or searching for lightning fires,” he said.

“So, a careless fire that takes crews away from the mission at hand could be costly.”

Fields added that CFPA’s Regulated Use Closure for the general public remains in effect. Smoking, off-road driving and the cutting, grinding and welding of metal are prohibited. Campfires are only allowed in approved campgrounds and below the hide tide line on beaches. For a complete list of restrictions, visit http://www.coosfpa.net/ or call (541) 267-1789.