Fry Peak Fire 10/21/19 PM Update
Fire Season Ends October 1, 2019, but Fire Prevention Continues
After 122 days, the 2019 fire season will end on lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Southwest Oregon District Tuesday, October 1, 2019 at 12:01 a.m. Lands affected by this declaration include state, private, county, city, and Bureau of Land Management forestlands in Jackson and Josephine counties.
Recent rains and consistent cooler temperatures have made the conclusion of fire season possible. While this year has been mild in comparison to the 2018 fire season, our firefighters still kept busy on fires and additional calls; since June 1, crews extinguished 214 fires that made up 324 acres total. This is a remarkable accomplishment for the District, as firefighters were able to keep more than 98% of fires under 10 acres. 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.
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, and call your county’s burn line:
Jackson County: (541) 776-7007
Josephine County: (541) 476-9663
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. Fall weather in Southern Oregon can vary greatly.
While fire season is coming to a close, we are still here to help. Fire prevention tips and additional information is available on 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
ODF Crews Continue to Extinguish Lightning-Caused Fires
Multiple new fire starts have been discovered following a thunderstorm that passed over the Rogue Valley early Thursday morning. In Jackson County, crews have been dispatched to 27 reports of lightning-caused fires, and 19 in Josephine County. Of the 46 total, 26 are extinguished, and crews are responding to three and actively mopping up six. The additional reports of fire were either unable to be located, or on lands not protected by the Southwest Oregon District; in these cases, crews worked on the fire until the appropriate agency arrived on scene to take over.
While this storm produced numerous fire starts, crews were able to catch them all quickly, resulting in approximately 25 acres burned across both counties.
On Friday, crews will remain engaged on the few active fires, with a focus on the largest, the Bunker Creek Fire in northwest Josephine County, at an estimated 20 acres.
While temperatures are predicted to be cooler in the next few days, fires originally sparked by lightning may ignite and flare up in the coming days and weeks. Reconnaissance flights will be conducted every day until crews fly three consistent days free of reports of smoke or fires.
The public can also play a role in helping keep our area fire-free; Any smoke seen around the valley should be reported to an ODF office or 911 in an emergency. Updates are available on our Facebook page: @ODFSouthwest.
Overnight Thunderstorms Spark Numerous Small Fires
Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District firefighters have been responding to several reports of small lightning-sparked fires as a result of overnight thunderstorms in Southern Oregon. Between Jackson and Josephine Counties, more than 30 reports of potential fires have been received by our dispatch centers, and crews have confirmed 18 fires, extinguishing five. Another six reports have not been confirmed, and crews will be dispatched to those potential incidents when current assignments are wrapped up.
In Jackson County, the majority of fires are reported on the east side, ranging from the California-Oregon border to Grizzly Peak and Butte Falls. In Josephine County, fires range from the Applegate Valley to Deer Creek, Sexton Mountain and Wolf Creek. The largest is south of Butte Falls, estimated to be ¾ of an acre.
More than 100 firefighters between both counties are available and responding to these reported fires. Resources available include engines, crews, and aircraft. All staff will remain engaged into this evening, when another system may bring additional thunderstorms through the Rogue Valley. As the weather begins to warm up, fire starts from lightning have the potential to flare up in the heat, and new starts may materialize. All staff at the Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District are prepared to respond to these reports.
Updates are also available on our Facebook page: @ODFSouthwest.
Gyda Fire AM Update 8/29/19
*This will be the final update on the Gyda Fire unless conditions significantly change.*
Containment on the Gyda Fire, located on the 11000-block of Highway 238, continues to steadily increase, jumping up to 57% as of Thursday morning. Crews pushed forward in mop-up operations, reaching the overnight goal of 150 feet into the fire; dayshift crews are aiming to extend another 100 feet past the perimeter on Thursday. Fire lines are holding steady, keeping the fire at 54 acres.
Resources assigned to the fire on Thursday include 13 crews, 14 engines, six water tenders, one bulldozer, and multiple tree fallers, adding up to more than 270 personnel. Tree falling operations will continue, mitigating hazardous snags in the northeast corner of the fire, while firefighters will continue extinguishing hotspots.
The Gyda Fire was first reported on Tuesday afternoon at approximately 3:50 p.m., burning mostly on private land, affecting a few acres of BLM-managed land as well. Two outbuildings were destroyed, however 12 homes in the immediate area were protected by structural resources from multiple local fire agencies, and no evacuations were put in place.
ODF greatly appreciates our partners on this fire, including the Bureau of Land Management, Applegate Valley Fire District, Jacksonville Fire Department, Jackson County Fire District 3, Rural/Metro Fire, Grants Pass Fire-Rescue, Illinois Valley Fire Department, Rogue River Fire Department, the Oregon Department of Transportation, the U.S. Forest Service, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, and Oregon State Police.
The cause of the Gyda Fire remains under investigation. This will be the final update unless conditions significantly change.