Despite excessive heat and gusty conditions, firefighters continue mopping up within fire perimeters  

JACKSON & JOSEPHINE COUNTIES, Ore. (July 13, 2025) — Despite unfavorable weather conditions, steep slopes, and other challenges, firefighters continue to hold and strengthen fire lines, conduct mop-up within fire perimeters, and increase containment levels of fires across the complex.

Triple digit temperatures, low relative humidity, and winds pose a heightened risk for flaring up hot spots within the fire and generating new starts across the region. Mop-up operations work to cool the fire’s edge to create a wider perimeter to help mitigate embers from escaping the fire.

Today, aircraft delivered large water bladders to remote areas around the fire, enabling crews to extinguish hot spots in difficult-to-access locations. Helicopters also used buckets to cool remote portions of the fire. 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.

Firefighters continue to fall snags, a common term for dead standing trees, to remove the hazard and allow firefighters to safely access additional portions of the fire.

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

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office canceled the Level 1 Evacuation Notice for Zones JAC-325B and JAC-326 today due to progress on the Heppsie Mountain and Poole Hill fires. Level 2 – Be Set evacuation notices remain for zones JAC-542, JAC-543, JAC-546, JAC-558 and JAC-559. Zone JAC-536 remains at a Level 1 – Be Ready. More information on current evacuations can be found at: https://protect.genasys.com/. One lane of I-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.  If conditions change and there are any threats to homes, communities or roads, information will be provided as timely and accurately as possible.

High temperatures, low humidity, wind, and dry fuels naturally increase fire activity. While resources remain engaged on these lightning-caused incidents, residents and visitors 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 strengthening lines while removing snags and extinguishing hot spots along fire perimeters.

The following fires are managed by the ODF District: