August 6, 2019
Firefighters working
on the East Evans Fire have reached 48% containment Tuesday night, nearly
hitting the halfway point of mop-up operations. The fire, located on the
18000-block of East Evans Creek road, is a total of 155 acres.
Crews continued to make significant progress on Tuesday, completing 200 feet of mop-up into the fires perimeter on both divisions; that work will continue into this evening. Due to the consistent progress, resources on the fire are decreasing overnight; seven crews, six engines, and four water tenders will take over the lines, for a total of 175 personnel dedicated to the fire.
Tree fallers have also made great progress on mitigating hazards on the fire, falling approximately 70% of the snags that posed a risk to firefighters. Dead and dangerous trees have been a concern on the line for firefighters; these efforts have increased safety on the line.
Nearly 30
residences in the area remain under a LEVEL 1 (BE READY) evacuation notice,
ordered by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO). A roadblock remains in
place at East Evans Creek road between May Creek road and Meadows road;
only residents and emergency personnel are permitted through.
The investigation on the cause of the East Evans Fire is being handled by the Office of the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) and Oregon State Police. It was initially reported as a structure fire at approximately 2 p.m. Friday, August 2.
ODF Southwest Oregon District is greatly appreciative of our
partnership with the
Medford District BLM on this fire, as well as
the efforts made by our partner agencies, including the Rogue Valley Fire
Chief’s Association, OSFM, 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.
August 6, 2019
Despite steep
terrain, crews working on the East Evans Fire are continuing to make consistent
progress on the line, increasing containment overnight to 38%. The fire,
located on the 18000-block of East Evans Creek road, remains 155 acres with a
strong perimeter.
Resources on the fire are increasing, with more than 250 personnel dedicated to this incident. Six tree fallers, 13 crews, 10 engines, 10 water tenders, and one bulldozer will be on the line today. One Type 2 and three Type 1 helicopters will also be available for air support, along with two air attack platforms.
The biggest challenge crews are currently facing is the steep terrain, particularly on the north side of the fire. Mop-up operations have been hindered due to the risks presented to firefighters in this area, and crews will be focused on progressing containment.
Safety remains a top priority on Tuesday, following a rollover accident of a Croman semi-truck Monday night at approximately 8:45 p.m. The semi, towing 5,000 gallons of Jet A fuel, was leaving the Beagle helibase in Shady Cove following its assignment on the fire when the accident occurred. The driver suffered minor injuries, was treated at a local hospital, and released. A HazMat response was requested. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Nearly 30
residences in the area remain under a LEVEL 1 (BE READY) evacuation notice,
ordered by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO). A roadblock remains in
place at East Evans Creek road between May Creek road and Meadows road;
only residents and emergency personnel are permitted through.
The investigation on the cause of the East Evans Fire is being handled by the Office of the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) and Oregon State Police. It was initially reported as a structure fire at approximately 2 p.m. Friday, August 2.
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, OSFM, 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.
