By Kirk Flatter & Associated Press
 
July 8, 2009
 
MEDFORD, Ore. - Fire crews continue to deal with a fire that burned nearly 21 acres on the Bear Creek Greenway and brought Interstate-5 traffic to a halt Sunday.
 
On Tuesday authorities said it appears a firebomb ignited the southeast Medford blaze off mile marker 26.
 
The Phoenix Fire Department says it has been on the scene everyday since the fire broke out. Oregon Department of Forestry and Medford Fire Department crews were there Wednesday. Many of the responses are related to reports of smoke in the area.
 
MFD officials say they they have put forward around 600 man hours on the grass fire.
 
"As we go on more and more calls, obviously our maintenance costs go up on this particular fire. There was a contracted helicopter and a contracted water tanker," Medford Fire Battalion Chief Gordon Sletmoe said.
 
It took about 100 firefighters, 24 engines, a water-dropping helicopter and a bulldozer to stop the flames.
The bulldozer costs as much as $150-an-hour. The helicopter is at $3,500-an-hour.
 
Meanwhile, the explosive device, which will be sent to a crime lab for analysis, was found about 1,000 yards south of a mobile home park.