Fire crews took advantage of a lull in the 1,638-acre fire near Selma and launched an aggressive attack Saturday on the blaze, which has destroyed five homes.

The fire settled into a slow burn because of cooler morning temperatures and high humidity, allowing crews to create and re-enforce lines around the blaze. As of late Saturday, the fire was 40 percent contained, said Elaine Parrott, an information officer for the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office.

The fire sparked Thursday afternoon in a grassy area near a vineyard and hurtled east along Deer Creek Road before fanning out into a heavily forested area about four miles northeast of Selma. Along the way it consumed five homes and several vehicles and out buildings.

A voluntary evacuation order was lifted and residents of about 40 homes on Davis Creek and Indian Creek roads, who were evacuated Thursday, trickled back to their homes throughout the day.

Parrott was quick to warn that the danger is far from over, however.

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"There is still a threat because the fire could flare up," she said.

A cool front that is expected to move into the Rogue Valley today has fire crews concerned. The front may be preceded by gusty winds and low humidity, which could kick the fire into higher gear, Parrott said.

"It could definitely cause some problems," she said.

The air campaign rolled on as eight helicopters scooped water from Lake Selmacand made continuous drops Saturday afternoon.

About 1,000 firefighters from several agencies used 30 fire engines and 12 bulldozers to fortify lines protecting some 225 homes and other buildings in the area that are still threatened. Flames knocked out phone service on Deer Creek Road through the weekend, officials said.

The blaze is just east of the site of the 2002 Biscuit fire, which burned 500,000 acres in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.

The estimated acreage was reduced to 1,638 Friday night based on information collected from infrared aerial mapping, officials said.

Reach reporting intern Chris Conrad at 776-4471, or e-mail cconrad@mailtribune.com.