JACKSON & JOSEPHINE COUNTIES, Ore. (April 29, 2021) – As conditions continue to support increased fire activity, Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Southwest Oregon District resources responded to multiple fires across the district for the second day in a row.
The first fire was reported in Josephine County just after 3 p.m.; one engine from the Grants Pass Unit initially responded to the Brimstone Road Fire located on the 600-block of Brimstone Road. Once on scene, firefighters requested additional resources. Rural Metro Fire Department and Wolf Creek Rural Fire Protection District responded alongside two ODF engines. The fire was quickly lined and contained to half an acre. The cause remains under investigation.
The Highway 62 MM 42 Fire
The second fire was dispatched shortly after the first, just before 3:15 p.m. in Jackson County. ODF engines responded to the Highway 62 MM 42 Fire, located along Highway 62 outside of Prospect. When the first unit arrived on scene, the fire was estimated to be two acres and growing in the windy conditions. Resources from Prospect Rural Fire Protection District, Jackson County Fire District 4 and the U.S. Forest Service Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest responded, as well as additional ODF engines and a bulldozer. Within two hours, the fire was 80% lined and 10% mopped up. Firefighters will remain on scene until the fire is 100% mopped up. Road closures were never put in place on Highway 62, however traffic was forced to slow down for the safety of those working on the fire. The cause is under investigation.
The third fire was also reported in Jackson County near Greensprings Summit. The Soda Mountain Road Fire is located on the 1900-block of Soda Mountain Road off of Highway 66. One ODF engine responded, along with resources from Greensprings Rural Fire District and Jackson County Fire District 5. It’s estimated to be 1½ acres, and at the time of this release, crews are actively engaged in initial attack.
These fires come on the heels of six others that ODF firefighters and our partner structure agencies responded to on Wednesday, including:
- 2400-block of Little Applegate Road, Jackson County, 1/100th of an acre
- 100-block of Scott Drive outside of Murphy, Josephine County, 1/10th of an acre
- 2600-block of Fish Hatchery Road, Josephine County, 1/10th of an acre
- 1000-block of Red Blanket Road northeast of Prospect, Jackson County, 1/10th of an acre
- 1700-block of Cady Road southwest of Jacksonville, Jackson County, two acres
- 2100-block of Crowfoot Road east of Shady Cove, Jackson County, 1/4 of an acre
The causes of these fires remain under investigation; however, they do not appear to be connected. Fire updates are available online at www.swofire.com and Facebook, @ODFSouthwest.