There is a community meeting planned for tomorrow, Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. to provide an update for the fire.
In-Person: Shady Cove School Gym, 100 Cleveland St, Shady Cove, OR 97539 – Stream online via: Facebook.com/ODFSouthwest
SAMS VALLEY, Ore. (July 14, 2026) – Firefighters on the East Evans Creek Fire took advantage of cooler conditions during the morning hours to make steady progress, establishing, strengthening, and tying sections of line together, improving access, and coordinating suppression efforts with numerous aircraft. This work allowed crews to gain ground ahead of challenging afternoon conditions.
As temperatures climbed, relative humidity dropped, the atmosphere became increasingly unstable, and fire behavior intensified. The thunderstorms predicted for the area remained well south and east of the fire; however, the absence of the forecasted monsoonal moisture contributed to lower relative humidity throughout the day, allowing fuels to remain critically dry and increasing the potential for heightened fire activity. In the late afternoon, conditions became more unstable, resulting in rapid changes in fire intensity.
Two of the spot fires identified during last night’s infrared flight have been mostly lined; however, one remains challenging due to difficult access and rugged terrain. This evening, a new spot fire east of the main fire perimeter prompted additional evacuations, with the latest evacuation information provided below. Crews are using both aircraft and heavy equipment to support suppression efforts in the area while continuing to improve access and strengthen control lines.
This evening, divisions along the northern half of the fire are experiencing extreme fire behavior, including running, torching, and spotting, which is expected to continue into the early morning hours. This remains a terrain- and fuel-driven fire, with steep slopes and heavy fuels continuing to challenge suppression efforts. Firefighters will continue working through the night to cool and slow fire growth, aggressively engaging with the fire when possible, and taking advantage of opportunities to establish and expand fireline.
Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) structural resources remain in place, working alongside wildland firefighters to protect homes and critical infrastructure. OSFM crews are completing full structure preparation in threatened areas, improving the defensibility of homes and buildings by removing combustible materials, identifying hazards, developing structural protection plans, and installing hose lays to support these efforts.
Aviation resources continued to play a critical role throughout the day and into the evening, supporting ground operations by cooling active fire areas, slowing fire spread, suppressing spot fires, and assisting crews working in difficult terrain. Additional resources continue to arrive on the fire and are being rapidly integrated into the response, strengthening suppression efforts in priority areas of the fire.
Tomorrow, firefighters will continue working to tie existing control lines together and strengthen containment. Although temperatures are expected to be slightly cooler, the area remains critically dry, and any new fire starts have the potential to experience rapid growth under current fuel conditions.
The Bureau of Land Management has issued a closure order for BLM-administered lands near the East Evans Creek Fire. Public entry, including hunting, hiking and camping, is prohibited. More information about the closure, including a map, is available online at www.blm.gov/orwafire.
Smoke Impacts: Smoke from the East Evans Creek Fire may settle into valleys and other low-lying areas, reducing visibility and impacting air quality in nearby communities. Smoke conditions can change throughout the day as winds shift. Individuals sensitive to smoke should take appropriate precautions. For current air quality information and smoke forecasts, visit: https://fire.airnow.gov/
Evacuations: The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management have issued the following evacuations by level:
Evacuation Level 3 Go Now: JAC-124
Evacuation Level 2 Be Set: JAC-016 / JAC-126 / JAC-147 / JAC-148 / JAC-149B
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office has upgraded JAC-126 and JAC-149B to Evacuation Level 2 Be Set. JAC-148A has been downgraded to Evacuation Level 2 Be Set. All residences located adjacent to E. Evans Creek Road, from address 19385 through 21899, as well as residences located at 21612 Antioch Road and 21615 Antioch Road are included. Zone 148 is no longer split into A and B sections. The entirety of Zone JAC-148 is at a Level 2.
Evacuation Level 1 Be Ready: JAC-003 / JAC-004 / JAC-017 / JAC-026 / JAC-036 / JAC-109 / JAC-127 / JAC-131 / JAC-149A / JAC-158
JAC-127, JAC-131, JAC-149A, and JAC-158 have been upgraded to Level 1 Be Ready.
An evacuation shelter for residents and domestic pets has been established at Hanby Middle School, 806 6th Avenue, Gold Hill. Horses can be taken to the Expo at 21 Penninger Road, Central Point, OR. For more information on evacuation levels or to find your evacuation zone, visit https://tinyurl.com/EastEvansCreekFireEvacMap. Expo staff and volunteers are prepared to receive horses; however, please call 541-776-7206 first to confirm space is available, as additional shelter locations may be activated. Owners should bring feed, water containers, and any necessary medications when possible. For livestock sheltering assistance, call 541-776-7206.
Road Closures: Traffic is closed to the public on East Evans Creek Road at Meadows Road. Please avoid the fire area to allow firefighters and heavy equipment to operate safely.
Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR): A “TFR” is in place for the fire area daily (24 hours) until further notice. Complete information is available at https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr3/?page=detail_6_4915. Flying a drone near or around a wildfire is illegal and compromises the safety of both pilots and firefighters, and interferes with firefighting efforts.
The fire started on Friday afternoon at 2:41 p.m. after a car crashed into a power pole, sparking dry vegetation in the area. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating the cause of the crash.
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