By Steven Sandberg & KDRV Staff
 
September 6, 2010
 
NEAR SELMA, Ore. - After burning for more than three weeks, the Oak Flat Fire in North Josephine County is almost completely contained.
 
The wildfire has burned nearly 8,000 acres in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, about 20 miles west of Grants Pass and 10 miles northwest of Selma, on the eastern edge of the giant 2002 Biscuit fire. At last report Monday it is 95 percent contained, with full containment expected Tuesday night.
 
Following that, the Oregon California Incident Management Team, ORCA, will hand over operations to local resources, who will continue to keep an eye of the fire.
 
Firefighters say the amount of time spent battling the blaze was longer than normal because of rugged terrain, inaccessibility and poor weather conditions.
 
At one point, the fire was nearly contained before it jumped the fire-line on the north side and expanded, forcing firefighters to work even longer.
 
"We were at this point on this fire a week-and-a-half-ago. When we were almost out of here once, and mother nature dealt us a different hand that day," Incident Commander Brett Fillis said.
 
Total firefighting costs are currently at nearly $20 million. At its height, over 1,050 firefighters were battling the blaze.
 
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.