RUCH, Ore. (August 7, 2026) – Firefighters strengthened control lines and completed 25 feet of mop-up around the entire perimeter of the Woodrat Mountain Fire today, despite hot, windy conditions and critical fire weather. The fire is now 10% contained and remains mapped at 282 acres.
The fire is 100% hose lined, providing water access around the entire perimeter as firefighters extinguish hot spots and secure lines. Ground and aviation resources worked in tandem throughout the day, with helicopters supporting crews through water bucket drops. Aircraft will continue flying this evening as long as daylight allows.
As operations transition into the night shift, incoming resources will take over suppression work across the incident. The south side will have three 20-person hand crews, three engines and one water tender, while the north side will have three 20-person hand crews, two engines and one water tender. On the eastern side, where steep terrain and thick vegetation make suppression work more challenging, one 10-person hand crew, two 20-person hand crews, two engines and two water tenders are assigned.
Overnight temperatures are expected to be slightly cooler than last night with somewhat better relative humidity recovery, although conditions will remain warm and dry. This will still allow night crews to continue building on today’s work and further secure the fire. An infrared-equipped UAS (drone) will also fly tonight to identify hidden heat while firefighters continue gridding and searching for hot spots.
All Level 3 – GO NOW evacuation notices associated with the Woodrat Mountain Fire have been downgraded by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management. Other evacuation levels remain active, and residents should continue checking rvem.org/fires for current evacuation information and maps.
Following the downgrade of all Level 3 – GO NOW evacuation notices, the Red Cross evacuation shelter at Jacksonville Elementary School is closing. Other evacuation levels remain active, and residents should continue checking rvem.org/fires for the latest evacuation information and maps. The livestock shelter at the Jackson County Expo, 21 Peninger Road in Central Point, remains open.
Road closures remain at Griffin Lane and Sterling Creek Road, Little Applegate Road and Sterling Creek Road, and Little Applegate Road and Upper Applegate Road. Access beyond these closures is limited to residents and personnel working on the fire.
A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) remains over the fire area until further notice. Flying a drone near a wildfire is illegal and can force firefighting aircraft to leave the area.
The official cause of the Woodrat Mountain Fire remains under active investigation. The next update will be provided tomorrow morning following shift change, unless significant information becomes available sooner. For more information, including current fire regulations, visit our Facebook page, @ODFSouthwest, or our website, www.swofire.com.
Firefighters continue to make progress on Woodrat Mountain Fire despite hot, windy conditions