JACKSON & JOSEPHINE COUNTIES, Ore. (July 11, 2025)—Resources from Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Complex Incident Management Team 3, and district resources working on non-complex lightning fires, continued to make progress last night with good overnight recovery of temperatures and humidities. With temperatures increasing, today’s focus will be holding night shift’s progress and expanding on their success.
ODF Complex Incident Management Team 3 is managing a group of lightning fires dubbed the Grizzly Complex. The team is also fighting the Neil Creek Road Fire west of I-5 near Ashland. ODF Southwest Oregon District continues suppression efforts on additional fires started by lightning on Monday along with initial attack on new fire starts within the district.
More than 1,300 personnel are assigned to the Grizzly Complex and Neil Creek Road fires, with more arriving today. These additional crews and resources are providing relief to local district personnel, allowing them to continue work on other fires within the district and respond to potential new fire starts.
“The progress made on these fires overnight significantly contributes to keeping these fires small ahead of increased temperatures over the weekend,” said Tyler McCarty, ODF Team 3 Incident Commander.
Today, the following fires remain the largest incidents across the district:
- The Neil Creek Road Fire, located west of I-5 mile marker 10 and south of Ashland. Last night, crews completed additional direct line and continued mop-up operations across the whole perimeter. With updated mapping, the fire is now estimated at 200 acres. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management are maintaining evacuation notices for Zones JAC-536, JAC-542, JAC-543, JAC-546, JAC-558 and JAC-559 under a Level 2 – Be Set. More information on current evacuations can be found at: https://protect.genasys.com/. One lane of I-5 is closed between mile markers 8.5 and 10.5 on southbound lanes only. Check com for up-to-date traffic information.
- The Deming Gulch Fire, located northeast of Buncom, is currently estimated at 250 acres. Firefighters have held the fire perimeter, completed hose lays, and are working on mop up on the east end of the fire. There are currently no evacuation notices on this incident.
- The Heppsie Mountain Fire, located south of Highway 140. Firefighters completed 100% of the line around the Heppsie Mountain Fire and continued on mop-up. With the hot and windy conditions yesterday, firefighters found seven small spot fires around the main body of the fire. This morning, they have all been lined and plumbed with fire hose for water access. Hazard trees are also being removed. With the addition of the spot fires, it’s now estimated to be 50 acres total. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management have issued a Level 1 – BE READY for a possible evacuation from the following areas: JAC-325-B Heppsie Mountain Road south of Highway 140 and the zone immediately to the south, JAC-326. More information on current evacuations can be found here: https://protect.genasys.com/.
- The Poole Hill Fire, located south of the Heppsie Mountain Fire, was also challenged by the weather yesterday. Fire breached a small portion of the line, but firefighters were able to get around it and continue with mop-up operations. With this change, a half-acre has been added to the fire size, bringing it to 12 acres. Evacuation notifications for the Heppsie Mountain Fire apply to this incident as well.
- The North Fork Deer Creek Fire, located in the hills above the 8000-block of Deer Creek Road east of Selma. Crews continue mop-up operations, holding it at 42 acres. There are no current evacuation orders for this incident.
- The Jim Me Peak Fire, located in a remote area south of Applegate. The fire remains active and firefighters continue to remain heavily engaged in an aggressive attack. Progress was made overnight, and today’s focus on this fire is to add direct line and maintain the current perimeter as temperatures increase today. The fire is estimated at 70 acres.
- The Palmer Peak Fire, located to the southeast of the Jim Me Peak Fire. Line is completed and mop up operations continue. The fire is currently estimated to be 90 acres.
- The Holcomb Peak Fire, located southwest of Williams. Today, firefighters held the line overnight and continued to build more. Hot and windy conditions challenged crews yesterday, and resources are expecting the same today. Firefighters will remain engaged in holding the line and mopping up where possible.
- The Sulfur Springs Fire, located southeast of Buncom and Cinnabar Mountain is 100% lined, and crews are adding hose lays to allow for water access across the incident. With this addition, mop up can begin and push forward.
- The Benson Gulch Fire, south of Applegate Road and Button Butte, west of Buncom. This fire is fully lined at 13 acres, plumbed with hose and in mop-up operations.
Aircraft continues to be a critical asset and will be heavily used all day. Twenty helicopters and fixed wing aircraft will be flying today. As a reminder, drone use around fires is illegal, and incredibly dangerous to pilots working on incidents; if you fly, we can’t. All illegal drone use will be reported to law enforcement.
Most of these fires were caused by lightning strikes following thunderstorms Monday night. Other small fires are still staffed across the district. Due to the large number of fires, updates on smaller incidents are not being provided at this time; if conditions change and there are any threats to homes, communities or roads, information will be provided as timely and accurately as possible.
Yesterday, local district resources responded to multiple new reports of human-caused fires, including a 12-acre fire off of Hammel Road, north of Eagle Point. All new fires have been caught and extinguished, but they serve as a reminder of the need to prevent fires where possible. While resources remain engaged on these lightning-caused incidents, communities can help by following all current fire regulations, found here: https://swofire.com/public-fire-restrictions/.
For fire local information anytime, visit the district’s Facebook page, @ODFSouthwest or website, www.swofire.com.