Fire Season Ends Today, but Fire Prevention Continues

October 20, 2017

After 138 days of being ramped up and ready to fight wildland fires, the 2017 fire season ends today, Friday, October 20, at 9:00 a.m. on lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Southwest Oregon District. Lands affected by this declaration include state, private, county, city, and Bureau of Land Management forestlands in Jackson and Josephine counties.
Fire season proved to be particularly challenging throughout the District due to the abundance of abutted lightning storms. The preliminary totals for the season show ODF firefighters tackling 335 wildland fires totaling roughly 930 acres. Of those fires, 127 are directly linked to lightning. This total fire count does not even include the number of alarms firefighters responded to related to fire restriction violations, assisting our local partners, and smoke chases throughout Jackson and Josephine Counties. Overall, 97 percent of all ODF Southwest fires were held at ten acres or less. We accredit this not only to our aggressive initial attack and well-trained team, but our countless partners throughout our region that have helped to make this season a success.
The termination of fire season removes fire prevention regulations on equipment use and the use of fire for debris burning. This applies to the public and industrial operations on forestlands. However, many structural fire agencies require permits for debris burning; please check with your local fire department to obtain any necessary permits before burning.
This is a great reminder; while fire season is over; fire prevention must continue. Please be vigilant while burning debris making sure that a burn pile is never left unattended. Also, please use caution while using machinery that could produce a spark. While there is precipitation throughout our region today, fall weather in southern Oregon varies greatly. Regardless, we are here to help.
Fire prevention tips and additional information is available online at www.swofire.com, our Facebook page: @ODFSouthwest, or you can call/visit the Southwest Oregon District office nearest to you:
·       Medford Unit, 5286 Table Rock Rd., Central Point. (541) 664-3328
·       Grants Pass Unit, 5375 Monument Dr., Grants Pass. (541) 474-3152

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Firefighters stop Little Applegate Fire at 9.5 Acres

October 5, 2017

Firefighters halted the Little Applegate Fire at 9.5 acres around 1:30 p.m. today. The initial report came in just after 12:30 p.m. with an estimated size of one-acre. Within minutes, the fire began spreading and spotting upslope near two homes off the intersection of Upper Applegate and Little Applegate Roads near the Applegate. While the two homes were initially threatened by the fire, no homes were lost or damaged by this incident; however, an outbuilding has been deemed a total loss.

There are still several firefighters on site investigating the cause of the fire, as well as mopping up hot spots along the hillside. At this time, the fire is 100 percent lined and 40 percent mopped up. Please use caution when driving through this area for the remainder of the afternoon as fire traffic will still be present.

Crews from the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Southwest Oregon District, Applegate Valley Fire District, Jacksonville Fire, U.S. Forest Service Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, and the Rogue Valley 2 Strike Team assisted in the suppression of this fire. A special thanks to the Forest Service for lending their two Type 2 helicopters that were on-hand at the Miller Complex. As always, we would like to thank our partners for the continued quick and efficient responses to wildfires throughout our region. For video of our firefighting efforts in action, visit our Facebook page: @ODFSouthwest.

This is a great reminder; fire season is not over yet. Please know the fire restrictions in your area before recreating outdoors this weekend. For additional information about the Oregon Department of Forestry, please visit us at www.swofire.com or call/visit the Southwest Oregon District office nearest to you:

·         Medford Unit, 5286 Table Rock Rd., Central Point. (541) 664-3328
·         Grants Pass Unit, 5375 Monument Dr., Grants Pass. (541) 474-3152

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