Media Contact: Joel Brumm 541-690-8703
Worthington Fire Information: 541-690-8703
The Worthington Fire (see map) started at approximately 3 PM on July 30. The fire is burning about 5 miles northeast of Eagle Point in forest and brush on public lands administered by the BLM and private property. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Crews from the Oregon Department of Forestry, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, Jackson County Fire District #3 (structural protection) and Jackson County Sheriff’s Department continue to make good progress on the Worthington Fire. The fire is 100% lined with a mixture of dozer and handline and is currently 70% contained. Currently, fire crews have mopped up and secured the fire line 50-100’ towards the interior of the fire from the established fire line. This fire mop-up will continue for the next several days as crews work to strengthen the fire line.
On August 1 at 8 PM the local Interagency Type 3 Incident Management Team assumed command of the fire. The team established an Incident Command Post at the Eagle Point Middle School. The team is requesting the public to avoid the incident command post to protect firefighter and community health. The response to the fire is a coordinated effort of county, state, and federal partners. Resources on the Worthington Fire are also poised for initial attack on new fires across Southwest Oregon if the need arises.
Residents beginning in the 1500 block of Worthington Road and higher number addresses have been lowered to a Level 2 evacuation. A Level 2 evacuation means “BE SET” to evacuate. This level indicates there is significant danger to the area, and residents should be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice.
The Oregon Department of Forestry increased the official fire danger level to Extreme (red) on all state, private and county forestlands in Jackson and Josephine counties on July 31.
Size: 750 acres
Containment: 70 percent
Personnel: 600
Hand crews: 21
Dozers: 15
Water tenders: 3
Helicopters: 9