Firefighters continue making progress despite excessive heat conditions, evacuation levels dropped near Neil Creek Road Fire  

July 14, 2025

JACKSON & JOSEPHINE COUNTIES, Ore. (July 14, 2025)—Today crews were seeking out and cooling hot spots that were identified overnight from an infrared (IR) flight and PALM IR. Fires showed minimal fire activity along incident perimeters, allowing crews to focus on hazard tree removal and mopping up.

Many of the fires have a large number of dead trees, known as hazard trees or snags, that require extra mitigation to reduce safety risks. Today, crews completed hazard tree removal along roads within the Neil Creek Road and Jim Me Peak fires, allowing easier access for water tenders.

Oregon Department of Forestry Complex Incident Management Team 3 is in command of a group of lightning fires known as the Grizzly Complex that started on Monday, July 7. The ODF Southwest Oregon District continues suppression efforts on additional fires within the district. Resources remain available to respond to new fire starts within the complex area.

Jackson County Sheriff’s Office reduced the Level 2 – Be Set evacuation notices for zones JAC-542, JAC-543, JAC-546, JAC-558 and JAC-559 to a Level 1 – Be Ready notice. Zone JAC-536 remains at a Level 1. More information on current evacuations can be found at: https://protect.genasys.com/. One lane of Interstate 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.

Aircraft continues to be used throughout the Complex. 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.

Temperatures are expected to remain at or near triple digits this week, which will naturally increase fire activity and risk. 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.

 

Current status of the fires under ODF CIMT3 Incident Management:

All Fires are 100% lined and in various stages of mop up. Crews are focusing on removing snags, strengthening lines and extinguishing hot spots along fire perimeters.

Incident Status Summary
Fire Area in Acres % Containment Current Fire Status
Anderson Ridge 0.1 90% 100% lined, in patrol status
Ben Johnson Mtn 3.8 75% 100% lined, in mop up
Benson Gulch 9.8 75% 100% lined, in mop up
Boaz Gulch 0.1 90% 100% lined, in patrol status
Burnt Butte 0.6 90% 100% lined, in patrol status
Cedar Flat 6.3 75% 100% lined, in mop up
Deming Gulch 258 75% 100% lined, in mop up
Grouse Creek Rd 11.1 75% 100% lined, in mop up
Hinkley Gulch Rd 0.5 90% 100% lined, in patrol status
Holcomb Peak 35.5 30% 100% lined, in mop up
Jim Me Peak 142.5 20% 100% lined, in mop up
Lick Creek 0.3 90% 100% lined, in patrol status
Lick Gulch 0.5 90% 100% lined, in patrol status
Munger 0.3 90% 100% lined, in patrol status
Neil Creek Rd 250.4 20% 100% lined, in mop up
N Fork Deer Creek 82.3 30% 100% lined, in mop up
Palmer Peak 76.6 20% 100% lined, in mop up
Sulphur Spring 38 20% 100% lined, in mop up
Tallowbox 1 90% 100% lined, in patrol status
Wagner Creek Rd MM4 0.1 90% 100% lined, in patrol status
Watergap Rd 16495 0.1 90% 100% lined, in patrol status
Waters Gulch 5.6 75% 100% lined, in mop up

 

The following fires are managed by the ODF District:

Incident Status Summary
Fire Area in Acres % Containment Current Fire Status
Heppsie Mountain 100 65% 100% lined, in mop up
Poole Hill 12 70% 100% lined, in mop up
Lightning Gulch 17 80% 100% lined, in mop up

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