JACKSON & JOSEPHINE COUNTIES, Ore. (July 12, 2025)—Despite high temperatures and windy conditions, firefighters held the fires within their current footprints on all incidents across Jackson and Josephine counties. Crews strengthened lines around all fires and continued mop-up operations.
Local and incident officials are urging the public to follow fire restrictions at https://www.oregon.gov/odf/fire/pages/restrictions.aspx
“We continue to see extreme heat and are facing critical fire weather,” said Justin Kelly, Bureau of Land Management Agency Administrator. “These weather conditions make fires easier to start and spread, so we’re asking the public to help us ensure that new fires don’t start—it’s the best way you can support firefighters.”
ODF Complex Incident Management Team 3 is in command of a group of lightning fires dubbed the Grizzly Complex that started on Monday, July 7. Southwest Oregon District continues suppression efforts on additional fires within the district. At this time, more than 1,600 personnel are assigned to the Grizzly Complex and are assisting with response to potential new fire starts within the complex area.
Today, the following fires remain the largest incidents under ODF CIMT3 Incident Management:
- The Neil Creek Road Fire – located west of I-5 mile marker 10 and south of Ashland, GPS mapped at 237 acres. Despite increased fire behavior, crews held fire lines with the help of helicopter water drops. Firefighters continue to strengthen lines and expand mop-up around the fire. Along the south end of the fire, crews removed hazardous standing dead trees to allow firefighters to access the southern perimeter safely. Level 2 – Be Set evacuation notices remain for zones JAC-542, JAC-543, JAC-546, JAC-558 and JAC-559. Zone JAC-536 remains at a Level 1 – Be Ready. More information on current evacuations can be found at: https://protect.genasys.com/. One lane of I-5 is closed to protect firefighters between mile markers 8.5 and 10.5 on southbound lanes only. Check tripcheck.com for up-to-date traffic information.
- The Deming Gulch Fire – located northeast of Buncom. Fire lines remain strong and the fire is currently estimated at 250 acres. Crews have completely lined the perimeter of the fire and are continuing to expand mop-up. There are currently no evacuation notices.
- The North Fork Deer Creek Fire – the 27-acre fire is located in the hills above the 8000-block of Deer Creek Road east of Selma. Mop-up operations continue on this incident. There are no current evacuation orders for this incident.
- The Jim Me Peak Fire – the 70-acre fire is located in a remote area south of Applegate. Lines remain strong; Crews have completely lined the perimeter of the fire and are continuing to expand mop-up and add more direct lines around portions of the fire to remove unburned vegetation from inside the line, strengthening it.
- The Palmer Peak Fire – the 76-acre fire is located to the southeast of the Jim Me Peak Fire. Crews have completely lined the perimeter of the fire and are continuing to expand mop-up. There are no current evacuation orders for this incident.
- The Holcomb Peak Fire – the 25-acre fire is located southwest of Williams. Crews completely lined the perimeter of the fire and are continuing to expand mop-up.
- The Sulfur Springs Fire – the 35-acre fire is located southeast of Buncom and Cinnabar Mountain. Crews have completely lined the perimeter of the fire and are continuing to expand mop-up.
- The Benson Gulch Fire, – the 9.6 acre fire is located south of Applegate Road and Button Butte, west of Buncom. Crews have completely lined the perimeter of the fire and are continuing to expand mop-up.
The following fires are managed by the ODF District:
- The Heppsie Mountain Fire – The Heppsie Mountain Fire – located south of Highway 140. Firefighters are continuing mop-up operations. Lines remain strong, and with the current status of the fire, firefighters were able to GPS map it today at 100 acres, with an additional 10 acres of mopped up spot fires. This fire is now 40% contained, which will increase as mop-up continues. A Level 1 – BE READY for a possible evacuation remains in place for: JAC-325-B Heppsie Mountain Road south of Highway 140 and the zone immediately to the south, JAC-326. More information on current evacuations issued by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management can be found here: https://protect.genasys.com/.
- The Poole Hill Fire – located south of the Heppsie Mountain Fire. Today, mop-up operations continued, putting the fire at 55% contained and holding it at 12 acres. This work will continue overnight. Evacuation notifications for the Heppsie Mountain Fire apply to this incident as well.
Most of these fires were caused by lightning strikes following thunderstorms Monday night. Other small fires are still staffed across the district. Firefighters are facing a high number of dead trees across all of these incidents. These dead trees create additional safety risks to firefighters, and in some cases have increased the time to build containment lines.
Aircraft continues to be used throughout the day. 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.
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.
Temperatures are expected to reach triple digits this weekend, which will naturally increase fire activity. While resources remain engaged on these lightning-caused incidents, communities can help to prevent new fires from starting 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.