Firefighters
working on the East Evans Fire are continuing to make great progress on mop-up,
increasing containment to 33% on Monday. The perimeter is holding, and the fire
remains 155 acres.
As of 6 p.m. Monday evening, the
Jackson County Sheriff’s Office has lowered the 11 LEVEL 3 (GO) evacuations to
LEVEL 1 (BE READY) notices. Those residences will join an additional 18 LEVEL 1
notices that have been in effect since the fire started. A roadblock will
remain in place on East Evans Creek road, however residents will be given
access.
Resources
on the fire Monday night include 10 crews, 10 engines, five water tenders, one
bulldozer and three type one helicopters until nightfall. Firefighters will
continue mopping up, with a goal of moving an additional 50 to 75 feet into the
interior of the fire.
The East Evans Fire was
initially reported as a structure fire at approximately 2 p.m. Friday, August 2.
The Office of the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) and Oregon State Police are
investigating the cause.
ODF Southwest Oregon District is greatly appreciative of our
partnership with the
BLM on this fire, as well as the efforts made by
our partner agencies, including the Rogue Valley Fire Chief’s
Association, Oregon State Police, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson
County Fire District Five, Mercy Flights, Jackson County Roads, and Jackson County Emergency Management.
Updates on the East Evans Fire can be found on our Facebook Page: @ODFSouthwest.
Firefighters assigned
to the Little Applegate Complex completed mop-up operations on Monday afternoon,
and both fires are 100% contained. Following accurate GPS mapping, the Little
Applegate Fire was contained at six acres, and the Yale West Fire was mapped at
just under an acre. All crews have since cleared the scene.
The Little
Applegate Complex, located in the Applegate Valley on the 6500-block of Little
Applegate road, was started by lightning at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Resources, including more than 160 personnel, were sent to the fires within the
first two hours, some crews rerouted from the East Evans Fire. With the help of
our partner agencies, Applegate Valley Fire Department and the Bureau of Land
Management, ODF crews were able to contain both fires within the first 24 hours
after they were reported.
One LEVEL 3
(GO) evacuation and three LEVEL 1 (BE READY) notices were issued by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO)
and the Rogue Valley Fire Chief’s Association; all have since been lifted,
along with a road closure at Little Applegate and Buncom roads.
This will be
the final update for the Little Applegate Complex unless conditions significantly
change.
Lightning
struck in the Applegate Valley at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, sparking
the first lightning-caused fires of the 2019 Fire Season. With the potential
for thunderstorms in the forecast throughout this week, firefighters are
prepared to respond to additional starts related to lightning strikes. At the
same time, the Fire Danger Level has increased to Extreme (Red), and ODF is
requesting heightened public awareness, as crews remain engaged on three fires on
the District.
This morning, firefighters are continuing to mop up the Little
Applegate Fire, located just north of the 6500 block of Little Applegate road,
southwest of Talent. It was first reported to dispatch Sunday evening, in the
same area lightning had recently struck. ODF Detection Specialists, along with
air attack en route to the report were able to confirm a sighting of smoke in
the area. A second fire south of Little Applegate road, the Yale West Fire, was
also spotted by air resources and crews arriving on scene. Both were initially
reported to be half an acre.
Additional
resources were called in, including engines, crews and aircraft from the East
Evans Fire. Within the first two hours, more than 160 personnel were assigned
to these fires, designated the Little Applegate Complex. Resources included 15
engines, seven crews, two water tenders, one bulldozer, multiple helicopters
and the District’s large airtanker (LAT). Crews, along with our partner
agencies, Applegate Valley Fire Department and the Bureau of Land Management,
were able to contain the Yale West Fire just under an acre, and the Little
Applegate Fire at 13 acres.
The Jackson
County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO)
and the Rogue Valley Fire Chief’s Association made one LEVEL 3 (GO) evacuation,
and placed three other residences in the area under a LEVEL 1 (BE READY). All
residents were notified personally by officials. Additionally, Little Applegate
road was closed at the intersection of Buncom road. Aside from residents, the
public is requested to keep clear of the area.
Crews will
remain on scene today, continuing mop-up operations and monitoring any
potential flare-up’s. Resources will also be available to divert to any new
potential fire starts.
As of Monday, August 5, 2019, lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry in Jackson and Josephine Counties are in Extreme Fire Danger (Red) and new restrictions are in place. More information on current fire regulations can be found on the District’s Facebook page: @ODFsouthwest.
Firefighters on the East Evans Fire, located
approximately nine miles west of Shady Cove, made significant progress on
Sunday and throughout the evening, upping containment from zero to 27% in two shifts.
Crews were able to lay hose throughout the entire fire as well, connecting
existing structure, and hand lines were additionally strengthened. Accurate GPS
mapping has placed the fire at 155 acres, nearly half the size it was
originally estimated.
Firefighters
were also focused on falling dangerous trees in the perimeter, and made good
progress mitigating those hazards. Crews will continue that work today, and
push forward on mop-up operations, with a goal of reaching up to 300 feet in
the interior in some places.
Resources
on the fire today include 13 crews, 10 engines, 10 water tenders, one bulldozer
and numerous tree fallers. Aircraft resources will continue to remain the same.
The East Evans Fire was
initially reported as a structure fire at approximately 2 p.m. Friday. Crews
arrived to a burning structure and five acres of active fire. With hot
temperatures and wind, it spread to an estimated 300 acres within the first
three hours. However, aircraft and ground resources moved swiftly in the first
five hours to gain the upper hand. The cause of the fire remains under
investigation.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office initially made 11
LEVEL THREE and 18 LEVEL ONE evacuations; they remain in place. Residents
affected has been notified. A Red Cross Shelter in not in place.
ODF Southwest Oregon District is greatly appreciative of our partnership with the BLM on this fire, as well as the efforts made by our partner agencies, including the Rogue Valley Fire Chief’s Association, Oregon State Police, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson County Fire District Five, Mercy Flights, Jackson County Roads, and Jackson County Emergency Management.
Updates on the East Evans Fire can be found on our Facebook Page: @ODFSouthwest.
