On October 28 , 1988 , a stretch of the Chetco River was designated a National Wild and Scenic River , from its headwaters to the boundary of the Rogue River – Siskiyou National Forest . In a court case in 1994 , the Chetco was determined to be navigable . In 2002 , over of the eastern portion of the watershed and surrounding regions were destroyed in the Biscuit Fire . Originally five separate fires , it was caused by several lightning strikes between July 12 and 15 . By August 17 , all five had burned together , creating one massive fire . It burned for over five months and was not fully extinguished until December 31
Biscuit Fire
Biscuit Fire
Chetco River