ROGUE RIVER, Ore. (August 4, 2022) – Firefighters on the Wards Creek Fire, located in the hills above the 3100-block of Wards Creek Road east of Rogue River, made excellent progress overnight, completely lining the perimeter of the fire and beginning mop-up operations. The fire was GPS mapped overnight and was found to be 17 acres in size. The fire was lightning-caused and is burning on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and private land.
Overnight, firefighters were able to plumb the entire fire with hose, providing water access to the entire incident. This has been a challenge since the fire was first reported on Tuesday night, as it’s burning on a steep slope in dense brush. Today, three 20-person crews, a water tender, a bulldozer and ODF overhead personnel are assigned to the fire, and aircraft will be utilized as needed. Resources will continue mopping up, and focus on securing and holding containment lines. Due to the steepness of the ground, mop-up operations may take longer, as crews work to be thorough in this effort.
The health and safety of our firefighters remains a top priority, and breaks will be a focus on the line. Temperatures are expected to be slightly cooler today, although the high remains in the mid-nineties. Significantly less windy conditions should also decrease fire behavior, and not challenge crews as much as yesterday.
There are currently no structures threatened. Smoke may still be visible while mop-up operations continue. Fire information is always available on our Facebook page @ODF Southwest Oregon District.