Update: I-5 Re-Opens After Fire Jumps Interstate
Oregon Department of Transportation officials say all lanes on Interstate Five in Medford are now open.
This after a grass fire jumped the interstate between Medford and Phoenix Sunday afternoon.
Traffic was brought to a stand still for at least an hour.
Flames threatening Medford Estates and Glenwood Park among others.
Firefighters on high alert.
"We heard this great big noise it was like a gun shot," says nearby resident, Beth HIte.
People at Pacific Power say they intenitionally shut down to at least 600 people so that helicopters can fly over and drop water on the flames.
Transportation officials did set up a detour on Highway 99.
The grass fire is near mile post 26, that's right between the cities of Phoenix and Medford.
The fire quickly spread when winds gained speed, at times engulfing large trees along the interstate.
Now both lanes are re-opened.
"You could really smell that smoke and then we looked and man and that smoke was just boiling, "Hite says. "There were flames and it was actually coming this way."
