SELMA, Ore. (July 25, 2021) – Firefighters working the Redwood Highway Fire overnight have made excellent progress despite limited resources overnight and hazard trees in the area; the fire is 100% lined and 45% contained. It’s located on Highway 199 milepost 23, approximately four miles south of Selma. Through GPS mapping, the fire and multiple spot fires have been confirmed to be 6 acres in size. Today, firefighters will continue falling hazardous trees and carry on with mop-up efforts. Safety is a focus, as many of these trees pose a risk to firefighters and traffic on Highway 199. Four Type 6 engines, a 20-person hand crew, two fallers and two overhead managers are assigned to the fire today; aircraft will be available as needed.
The Redwood Highway Fire was first reported just before 6:30 p.m. Saturday night as multiple fires along Highway 199. When firefighters began arriving on scene, they encountered two small fires at milepost 17 and 18 respectively; both fires were relatively small in size and were quickly extinguished. At milepost 23, another fire was quickly growing. Resources from ODF Southwest Oregon District, Illinois Valley Fire District, Rural Metro Fire, Grants Pass Fire District, Applegate Valley Fire District #9, and Rogue River Fire District #1 all responded and began an aggressive initial attack. Rogue Valley Wildland Task Force 2 was also requested. Air resources including two large air tankers (LAT’s), two single engine air tankers (SEAT’s), a Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3 (ODF Helitack) helicopters, and an air attack platform were ordered and supplied water bucket and retardant drops, helping to stop the forward spread of the fire. Between aircraft and crews on the ground, a perimeter was established within the first four hours of the incident.
Firefighting activity prompted the closure of Highway 199 on Saturday night, however, it has since been reopened. A level 1 (BE READY) evacuation notice was put in place by Josephine County Emergency Management for Wild Park Lane and Terrell Way as a precaution; it has since been lifted.
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