Ron Brown & Associated Press
 
July 22, 2009
 
NEAR MACDOEL, Ca. -- Fire officials say a blaze that has burned 6.5 square miles in far Northern California near the Oregon border will be contained over the weekend.
 
The over 4,100 acre Tennant Fire started in the Klamath National Forest on Sunday and has since spread to ranches, destroying three outbuildings. U.S. Forest Service spokesman Mel Cagle says the buildings were not near homes.
 
The fire, 25 miles northeast of Weed, is 70 percent contained and poses no danger to other structures or communities. A lot of the fire has burned along Highway 97. Firefighters expect to have it fully contained on Saturday. Officials say it is the largest fire in the region in more than 30 years. The cause is under investigation.
 
Crews from the U.S. Forest Service, Cal-Fire and other California agencies have been battling the wildfire, which has so far cost USFS about $1.7 million. As of Wednesday there were 20 crews, 72 engines, five helicopters, 27 bulldozers and nearly 900 personnel working the Tennant Fire.
 
"We still have the afternoon winds that come up, and that does raise our concern, and we're more vigilant about watching for spot fires and fire activity along the perimeter," Fire Information Officer Mike Pott said.
 
Officials say hot spots that burn logs and stumps are a major concern right now. Firefighters will start about 100 feet in from a fire perimeter. They will get that area under control, then move in another 100 feet and so on until they have the fire well secured.
 
"When we say firefighter, it's actually a misnomer, because really all fire is managed. Sometimes we manage fire for beneficial effects, and sometimes we just need to put the fire out. And in this case, that's what we want to do is just get the fire out," Goosenest District Ranger Laura Allen said.