KDRV Staff
 
June 24, 2009
 
CAVE JUNCTION, Ore. - A series of five fires in Josephine County Wednesday afternoon kept crews busy and forced the closure of Highway 46 to the Oregon caves.
 
The fires were reported at 2:45 p.m. near the 3,200 block of Caves Highway. They ranged in size from a fourth-of-an-acre to five acres. At one point, the largest of the fires crossed the highway twice. A sixth fire in the same general area, South Kerby Ave., was reported at about the same time this afternoon, 2:23 p.m., and burned half-an-acre.
 
The fires, pushed by wind gusts up to 15 mph, burned primarily in grass and threatened barns and other structures.
 
The cause of the fires is under investigation, but fire crews say there's a chance they are human caused.
 
"This fire here is also very suspicious. We could not find an area of origin, except for behind me. It's very very suspicious start," Illinois Valley Fire Chief Harry Rich said.
 
The fire department is looking for a vehicle seen at the scene of the first fire. Police say witnesses report there were two men and a woman in a four-door, 1980's blue Buick, and a woman yelled out "get in the car and drive".