While thunderstorms over the
weekend did spark eight small fires, each under 1/10th of an acre,
the benefit of the rain has helped crews finishing up on the Panther Gulch and
East Evans Fires, boosting containment on both. Firefighters on both fires are
expected to complete the mop-up process this week.
On Tuesday, July 30, the Panther Gulch Fire
was reported to ODF crews around 6 p.m. With the help of aircraft, firefighters
on the ground were able to gain the upper hand on the first shift. Accurate GIS
mapping placed the fire at 65 acres, very close to the size firefighters originally
estimated it to be. The Panther Gulch Fire is now 98% contained.
On Friday, August 2, the East Evans Fire was reported as a structure
fire at 2 p.m. Crews arrived to a burning
structure and five acres of active fire. Firefighters were able to construct a
perimeter around the East Evans Fire at 155 acres; it is now 95% contained.
As the weather continues to warm up, fire starts from lightning over the weekend have the potential to flare up in the heat. All staff at the Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District are prepared to respond to these reports. Updates are available on our Facebook page: @ODFSouthwest.
This
will be the final update for the East Evans Fire unless conditions
significantly change.
Infrared
flights over the East Evans Fire confirm mop-up operations are effective and
progressing quickly; Firefighters have upped containment overnight to 51%. The
fire, located on the 18000-block of East Evans Creek road, remains 155 acres.
Resources are increasing on the line for dayshift on Wednesday, with nearly 200 personnel dedicated to the fire; six tree fallers, 10 crews, six engines, five water tenders, and one bulldozer will be on hand today. Crews will continue mop-up efforts while keeping safety in mind. Steep terrain and dangerous snags remain hazards to firefighters. Medics are available at staging.
Nearly 30
residences in the area remain under a LEVEL 1 (BE READY) evacuation notice,
ordered by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO). The Office of the
Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) and Oregon State Police are investigating the
cause of this fire.
ODF Southwest Oregon District is greatly appreciative of
our partnership with the Medford District BLM on this fire, as well as the efforts made by our partner agencies,
including the Rogue Valley Fire Chief’s Association, OSFM, Oregon State Police, the Jackson County Sheriff’s
Office, Jackson County Fire District Five, Mercy Flights, Jackson County Roads,
and Jackson County Emergency
Management.
Firefighters working
on the East Evans Fire have reached 48% containment Tuesday night, nearly
hitting the halfway point of mop-up operations. The fire, located on the
18000-block of East Evans Creek road, is a total of 155 acres.
Crews continued to make significant progress on Tuesday, completing 200 feet of mop-up into the fires perimeter on both divisions; that work will continue into this evening. Due to the consistent progress, resources on the fire are decreasing overnight; seven crews, six engines, and four water tenders will take over the lines, for a total of 175 personnel dedicated to the fire.
Tree fallers have also made great progress on mitigating hazards on the fire, falling approximately 70% of the snags that posed a risk to firefighters. Dead and dangerous trees have been a concern on the line for firefighters; these efforts have increased safety on the line.
Nearly 30
residences in the area remain under a LEVEL 1 (BE READY) evacuation notice,
ordered by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO). A roadblock remains in
place at East Evans Creek road between May Creek road and Meadows road;
only residents and emergency personnel are permitted through.
The investigation on the cause of the East Evans Fire is being handled by the Office of the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) and Oregon State Police. It was initially reported as a structure fire at approximately 2 p.m. Friday, August 2.
ODF Southwest Oregon District is greatly appreciative of our
partnership with the
Medford District BLM on this fire, as well as
the efforts made by our partner agencies, including the Rogue Valley Fire
Chief’s Association, OSFM, Oregon State Police, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson
County Fire District Five, Mercy Flights, Jackson County Roads, and Jackson County Emergency Management.
Updates on the East Evans Fire can be found on our Facebook Page: @ODFSouthwest.
Despite steep
terrain, crews working on the East Evans Fire are continuing to make consistent
progress on the line, increasing containment overnight to 38%. The fire,
located on the 18000-block of East Evans Creek road, remains 155 acres with a
strong perimeter.
Resources on the fire are increasing, with more than 250 personnel dedicated to this incident. Six tree fallers, 13 crews, 10 engines, 10 water tenders, and one bulldozer will be on the line today. One Type 2 and three Type 1 helicopters will also be available for air support, along with two air attack platforms.
The biggest challenge crews are currently facing is the steep terrain, particularly on the north side of the fire. Mop-up operations have been hindered due to the risks presented to firefighters in this area, and crews will be focused on progressing containment.
Safety remains a top priority on Tuesday, following a rollover accident of a Croman semi-truck Monday night at approximately 8:45 p.m. The semi, towing 5,000 gallons of Jet A fuel, was leaving the Beagle helibase in Shady Cove following its assignment on the fire when the accident occurred. The driver suffered minor injuries, was treated at a local hospital, and released. A HazMat response was requested. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Nearly 30
residences in the area remain under a LEVEL 1 (BE READY) evacuation notice,
ordered by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO). A roadblock remains in
place at East Evans Creek road between May Creek road and Meadows road;
only residents and emergency personnel are permitted through.
The investigation on the cause of the East Evans Fire is being handled by the Office of the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) and Oregon State Police. It was initially reported as a structure fire at approximately 2 p.m. Friday, August 2.
ODF Southwest Oregon District is greatly appreciative of our
partnership with the
BLM on this fire, as well as the efforts made by
our partner agencies, including the Rogue Valley Fire Chief’s
Association, OSFM, Oregon State Police, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson
County Fire District Five, Mercy Flights, Jackson County Roads, and Jackson County Emergency Management.
Updates on the East Evans Fire can be found on our Facebook Page: @ODFSouthwest.
Firefighters
working on the East Evans Fire are continuing to make great progress on mop-up,
increasing containment to 33% on Monday. The perimeter is holding, and the fire
remains 155 acres.
As of 6 p.m. Monday evening, the
Jackson County Sheriff’s Office has lowered the 11 LEVEL 3 (GO) evacuations to
LEVEL 1 (BE READY) notices. Those residences will join an additional 18 LEVEL 1
notices that have been in effect since the fire started. A roadblock will
remain in place on East Evans Creek road, however residents will be given
access.
Resources
on the fire Monday night include 10 crews, 10 engines, five water tenders, one
bulldozer and three type one helicopters until nightfall. Firefighters will
continue mopping up, with a goal of moving an additional 50 to 75 feet into the
interior of the fire.
The East Evans Fire was
initially reported as a structure fire at approximately 2 p.m. Friday, August 2.
The Office of the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) and Oregon State Police are
investigating the cause.
ODF Southwest Oregon District is greatly appreciative of our
partnership with the
BLM on this fire, as well as the efforts made by
our partner agencies, including the Rogue Valley Fire Chief’s
Association, Oregon State Police, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson
County Fire District Five, Mercy Flights, Jackson County Roads, and Jackson County Emergency Management.
Updates on the East Evans Fire can be found on our Facebook Page: @ODFSouthwest.
Firefighters assigned
to the Little Applegate Complex completed mop-up operations on Monday afternoon,
and both fires are 100% contained. Following accurate GPS mapping, the Little
Applegate Fire was contained at six acres, and the Yale West Fire was mapped at
just under an acre. All crews have since cleared the scene.
The Little
Applegate Complex, located in the Applegate Valley on the 6500-block of Little
Applegate road, was started by lightning at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Resources, including more than 160 personnel, were sent to the fires within the
first two hours, some crews rerouted from the East Evans Fire. With the help of
our partner agencies, Applegate Valley Fire Department and the Bureau of Land
Management, ODF crews were able to contain both fires within the first 24 hours
after they were reported.
One LEVEL 3
(GO) evacuation and three LEVEL 1 (BE READY) notices were issued by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO)
and the Rogue Valley Fire Chief’s Association; all have since been lifted,
along with a road closure at Little Applegate and Buncom roads.
This will be
the final update for the Little Applegate Complex unless conditions significantly
change.
Lightning
struck in the Applegate Valley at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, sparking
the first lightning-caused fires of the 2019 Fire Season. With the potential
for thunderstorms in the forecast throughout this week, firefighters are
prepared to respond to additional starts related to lightning strikes. At the
same time, the Fire Danger Level has increased to Extreme (Red), and ODF is
requesting heightened public awareness, as crews remain engaged on three fires on
the District.
This morning, firefighters are continuing to mop up the Little
Applegate Fire, located just north of the 6500 block of Little Applegate road,
southwest of Talent. It was first reported to dispatch Sunday evening, in the
same area lightning had recently struck. ODF Detection Specialists, along with
air attack en route to the report were able to confirm a sighting of smoke in
the area. A second fire south of Little Applegate road, the Yale West Fire, was
also spotted by air resources and crews arriving on scene. Both were initially
reported to be half an acre.
Additional
resources were called in, including engines, crews and aircraft from the East
Evans Fire. Within the first two hours, more than 160 personnel were assigned
to these fires, designated the Little Applegate Complex. Resources included 15
engines, seven crews, two water tenders, one bulldozer, multiple helicopters
and the District’s large airtanker (LAT). Crews, along with our partner
agencies, Applegate Valley Fire Department and the Bureau of Land Management,
were able to contain the Yale West Fire just under an acre, and the Little
Applegate Fire at 13 acres.
The Jackson
County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO)
and the Rogue Valley Fire Chief’s Association made one LEVEL 3 (GO) evacuation,
and placed three other residences in the area under a LEVEL 1 (BE READY). All
residents were notified personally by officials. Additionally, Little Applegate
road was closed at the intersection of Buncom road. Aside from residents, the
public is requested to keep clear of the area.
Crews will
remain on scene today, continuing mop-up operations and monitoring any
potential flare-up’s. Resources will also be available to divert to any new
potential fire starts.
As of Monday, August 5, 2019, lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry in Jackson and Josephine Counties are in Extreme Fire Danger (Red) and new restrictions are in place. More information on current fire regulations can be found on the District’s Facebook page: @ODFsouthwest.
Firefighters on the East Evans Fire, located
approximately nine miles west of Shady Cove, made significant progress on
Sunday and throughout the evening, upping containment from zero to 27% in two shifts.
Crews were able to lay hose throughout the entire fire as well, connecting
existing structure, and hand lines were additionally strengthened. Accurate GPS
mapping has placed the fire at 155 acres, nearly half the size it was
originally estimated.
Firefighters
were also focused on falling dangerous trees in the perimeter, and made good
progress mitigating those hazards. Crews will continue that work today, and
push forward on mop-up operations, with a goal of reaching up to 300 feet in
the interior in some places.
Resources
on the fire today include 13 crews, 10 engines, 10 water tenders, one bulldozer
and numerous tree fallers. Aircraft resources will continue to remain the same.
The East Evans Fire was
initially reported as a structure fire at approximately 2 p.m. Friday. Crews
arrived to a burning structure and five acres of active fire. With hot
temperatures and wind, it spread to an estimated 300 acres within the first
three hours. However, aircraft and ground resources moved swiftly in the first
five hours to gain the upper hand. The cause of the fire remains under
investigation.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office initially made 11
LEVEL THREE and 18 LEVEL ONE evacuations; they remain in place. Residents
affected has been notified. A Red Cross Shelter in not in place.
ODF Southwest Oregon District is greatly appreciative of our partnership with the BLM on this fire, as well as the efforts made by our partner agencies, including the Rogue Valley Fire Chief’s Association, Oregon State Police, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson County Fire District Five, Mercy Flights, Jackson County Roads, and Jackson County Emergency Management.
Updates on the East Evans Fire can be found on our Facebook Page: @ODFSouthwest.
Windy conditions tested fire lines overnight,
as crews worked to continue forward progress on the East Evans Fire, located in
Sams Valley. While containment hasn’t changed, lines are holding strong, and
mop-up operations will continue on Sunday. The fire remains an estimated 300
acres, and is burning on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and private land.
Crews will focus on falling dangerous trees, referred to as snags,
with the goal of improving safety on the line. Mop-up operations will also
continue, however snags have posed a significant risk to firefighter safety, and
clearing hazards will be one of today’s top priorities. Crews will also be monitoring
the area for potential spot fires that may be carried by possible windy
conditions.
Weather is expected to be an added challenge for crews, along with the District today, as temperatures heat up and the potential for thunderstorms on the east side of the county could spread out resources. Firefighters and admin staff are aware of the forecast and will make strategic and tactical decisions accordingly.
More than 200 personnel remain dedicated to
the East Evans Fire for today’s shift. Resources on the fire today include 10
20-man crews, four 10-man crews, 10 engines, two bulldozers, eight water
tenders, and five tree fallers. Aircraft will be utilized when smoky conditions
adequately clear; helicopters and airtankers are available to work the fire.
The East Evans Fire was
initially reported as a structure fire at approximately 2 p.m. Friday. Crews
arrived to a burning structure and five acres of active fire. With hot
temperatures and wind, it spread to an estimated 300 acres within the first
three hours. However, aircraft and ground resources moved swiftly in the first
five hours to gain the upper hand. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office initially made 11 LEVEL
THREE and 18 LEVEL ONE evacuations; they remain in place. Residents affected
has been notified. A Red Cross Shelter in not in place.
Exactly
24 hours after the East Evans Fire was initially reported, firefighters were
successful in completing a strong fire line around the entire perimeter,
achieving their main objective for the shift. Mop-up operations began on a
portion of the fire, and will continue into this evening. The fire remains an
estimated 300 acres tonight. Containment remains at 0%, however, crews will be
working toward beginning that process.
Predicted afternoon
winds did not impact fire activity as originally anticipated, but crews are
still keeping the conditions in mind while on the line tonight. Nightshift
crews will continue to strengthen existing lines, along with furthering the
mop-up process. Personnel on the fire remains at more than 200; resources include six 20-man crews, 10 engines, two
bulldozers, and five water tenders for tonight’s shift. Aircraft will continue
water drops until sundown. Safety remains a top priority.
The East Evans Fire was initially reported
as a structure fire at approximately 2 p.m. Friday. Crews arrived to a burning
structure and five acres of active fire. With hot temperatures and wind, it
spread to an estimated 300 acres within the first three hours. However,
aircraft and ground resources moved swiftly in the first five hours to gain the
upper hand.
Evacuations made by the Jackson County Sheriff’s
Office still stand. Deputies gave an immediate evacuation notice (LEVEL 3) to
11 residences in the area, and also made 18 door-to-door LEVEL 1 evacuation
notices in the area of East Evans Creek Road between the 18500-block and
Meadows Road (north side of the roadway). At this time, a Red Cross Shelter has
not been set up. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Updates on the East Evans Fire
can be found on our Facebook Page: @ODFSouthwest and our website:
Crews
were able to continue making forward progress overnight on the East Evans Fire,
completing approximately 70% of the fire line. Located on East Evans Creek road
in Sams Valley, the fire is estimated to be around 300 acres. More than 200
personnel will be working on the fire today, with a goal of completing the fire
line and strengthening the perimeter.
Crews
continue to work to close the fire line. Four fallers will be on scene
today, taking down dangerous trees in and around the fire’s perimeter. Snags
and steep terrain are added risks to our crews. Overnight, one firefighter was
injured on the northeast side of the fire. The firefighter was transported by
air to a local hospital with serious injuries. Safety is our #1 priority and
crews will continue to mitigate risks and engage the fire as safe as possible.
Today, hot
temperatures and windy conditions will be additional challenges; fire activity
has the potential to increase in the afternoon, and aircraft will be focused
on any potential spread. A multitude
of resources will be on the fire today, including 10 20-man crews, 10 engines,
four tree fallers, four bulldozers, and six water tenders. Additionally, one
LAT, five SEATs, and a lead plane will begin making retardant drops as early as
the smoke lifts to bolster temporary and existing fire lines. Helicopters
available include five type ones, two type twos, and on type three; those
resources will also be making water drops throughout the day.
The East Evans Fire was initially reported
as a structure fire at approximately 2 p.m. Friday. Crews arrived to a burning
structure and five acres of active fire. With hot temperatures and wind, it
spread to an estimated 300 acres within the first three hours. However,
continuous retardant drops created a temporary fire line around the entire
perimeter, and significantly slowed the spread. By 7 p.m., crews had built on
the retardant line, and secured 10% with hand line.
Evacuations have been made by the Jackson County
Sheriff’s Office. Deputies gave an immediate evacuation notice (LEVEL 3) to 11
residences in the area. Deputies also made 18 door-to-door LEVEL 1 evacuation
notices in the area of East Evans Creek Road between the 18500-block and
Meadows Road (north side of the roadway). At this time, a Red Cross Shelter has
not been set up. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Updates on the East Evans Fire
can be found on our Facebook Page: @ODFSouthwest and our website:
Firefighters are making continuous progress on
the East Evans Fire, burning in Sams Valley. It’s estimated to be 300 acres,
and crews have managed to line 10% of the perimeter within the first five hours.
The East Evans Fire was reported to dispatch as a
structure fire at approximately 2 p.m. Friday afternoon in the 18000 block of
East Evans Creek Road. With the location provided, ODF detection cameras
located a thick smoke column, prompting a block response. Eight engines, four helicopters, five SEATs, two LATs, and
an air attack plane began an aggressive initial attack; however, fire activity escalated
quickly; by 5 p.m., the fire grew to approximately 300 acres.
By 7 p.m., repeated retardant drops
assisted in stopping the initial spread of the fire, creating a temporary fire
line. Additional
resources including a Rogue Valley Strike Team, one VLAT, another two
helicopters, and a helitack unit were also called out. Six engines, eight
20-person hand crews, seven bulldozers, two water tenders will continue to aggressively
fight the fire overnight.
The fire is burning away from houses, however
some evacuations have been made by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies gave an immediate evacuation notice
(LEVEL 3) to five residences in the area. Deputies are also making door-to-door
LEVEL 1 evacuation notices in the area of East Evans Creek Road between the
18500-block and Meadows Road (north side of the roadway). At this time, a Red
Cross Shelter has not been set up. The cause of the fire remains under
investigation.
Updates on the East Evans Fire can be found on our Facebook Page: @ODFSouthwest.
***This will be the final update for the Panther Gulch Fire unless conditions significantly change.***
Fire lines on the Panther Gulch Fire, located in the Applegate Valley, held overnight Thursday, and allowed nightshift crews to make good progress. Containment has increase to 34%, and accurate GIS mapping has placed the fire at 65 acres, very close to the size firefighters estimated it to be.
Five crews, seven engines, two bulldozers, one tender, four
fallers, and two medics will be on the fire lines on Friday. Firefighters will
continue gridding the landscape for interior hot spots, with a goal of mopping
up 75 feet into the fire from the perimeter. Aircraft is available if needed.
The Panther Gulch Fire was reported to ODF crews Tuesday
evening around 6 p.m. With the help of aircraft, firefighters on the ground
were able to gain the upper hand on the first shift. ODF Southwest Oregon
District greatly appreciates the support of our partner agencies working
alongside our crews, including Applegate Valley Fire District and Williams Fire
Rescue.
There are no evacuations or road closures near this fire. The
cause is under investigation.
Firefighters
continue to make steady progress on the Panther Gulch Fire, burning in the
Applegate Valley. Despite a few small fires along portions of our perimeter
Wednesday night, crews were able to strengthen lines and continue mop-up
operations, making progress on the containment of the fire, now 20%. It remains
an estimated 70 acres.
Crews
will continue mop-up operations today, with a goal of moving 50 feet into the
interior of the fire. Crews will also be taking down snags, visible in the
second picture, that could pose risks to firefighters. Safety remains a top
priority on the line. We’ll also have at least three helicopters on the fire
today, and potentially one more if available.
The Panther Gulch Fire was reported to ODF crews Tuesday evening
around 6 p.m. With the help of aircraft, firefighters on the ground were able
to gain the upper hand on the first shift. ODF Southwest Oregon District
greatly appreciates the support of our partner agencies working alongside our
crews, including Applegate Valley Fire District and Williams Fire Rescue.
There are no evacuations or road closures near this fire.
Investigators will continue to look into the cause today.
Updates are also available online at our Facebook page: @ODFSouthwest.
Firefighters were able to confirm in the
daylight today that the Panther Gulch Fire burning in the Applegate Valley is
completely lined, and crews were able to hold those lines today. The fire is
still estimated to be around 70 acres, however the steep terrain has made
walking the perimeter and mapping the fire for an exact acreage difficult. The
fire remains 15% contained tonight and more than 100 people are staffing it.
This evening, four crews, four
engines, one water tender and one bulldozer will be taking over. Safety is
tonight’s top priority; hazards include snags, rolling logs, and steep terrain.
Firefighters are tasked with finishing laying hose throughout the fire, before
beginning mop-up. When those operations begin, crews will begin by moving in 25
feet from the perimeter, extinguishing hot spots as they work inward.
Investigators were on scene today, working to determine the
cause of the fire. At this time, it is still under investigation. No
evacuations or road closures have been made.
Updates are also available online at our Facebook page:
@ODFSouthwest and our website: www.swofire.com.
Firefighters were able to make great progress overnight on the Panther Gulch Fire, lining nearly the entire fire in the first shift. This morning, it’s estimated to be 50 acres, however gps mapping today is expected to give a better picture of the size of the fire. The primary goal today is to hold the lines that were built overnight, and continue forward progress toward further containment with a focus on firefighter safety.
Crews were first alerted to the Panther Gulch Fire just before 6 pm on Tuesday evening; it was reported as a grassfire with a large plume of smoke above Panther Gulch road. ODF crews, along with Applegate Valley Fire and Williams Fire Rescue responded, however aircraft were first to reach the scene. Four helicopters, five SEATs, two LATs, and an air attack plane were engaged until the sun set. Air crews initially reported the fire to be seven acres. When firefighters arrived on scene, it was determined to be closer to 25. Four dozers and four 20-person hand crews also engaged in the fight, and worked through the evening. Steep terrain and snags in the area have been added challenges to fire crews, and the potential for rolling logs has posed a risk as well.
Our air attack will resume today with four helicopters, one fixed wing aircraft, one air attack plane and five SEATs. Four crews, six engines, two water tenders, and two dozers have taken over the line this morning, and will remain on scene today. With light wind and temperatures mirroring yesterday’s forecast, conditions will be favorable for firefighters on the line.
No evacuations or road closures are in place at this time. The cause of this fire remains under investigation.
The Milepost 97 Fire is burning on land protected by the Douglas Forest Protective Association.
NOTE: Acreage has been updated using an infrared flight overnight. Acreage will be updated twice daily, evening and morning. All other stats will be updated once. Other news will be posted as it happens and is confirmed.
Fire Summary: Strong winds continued over the fire through most of the evening shift, causing the fire to remain active through most of the night. Ground crews worked to contain spot fires across I-5 near the Turkey Creek/Milepost 94 area and along I-5. The focus of today’s work will be to continue the work on the spot fire and to safely construct line along the I-5 corridor and along the south and southeastern edges. Crews are making progress along the northern edge of the fire, having constructed line and starting to plumb. The western edge is being constructed along the ridgetops to create a continuous line, where possible. Crews will continue to build this line and strengthen what has been constructed.
The Douglas County Sheriffs Office issued a Level 2, “Set” evacuation level for all residences on the west side of the freeway between Interstate mileposts 88-83 which includes: Barton Road, Azalea-Glen Road, Old Booth Lane, Harrel Lane, Hobbs Lane, Fortune Branch Road on the Azalea-Glen side, Forrest Road, Realty Road, Quines Creek Road, Mobley Drive.
Additionally, all residences off of Upper Cow Creek Road starting at Interstate 5 milepost 88, east to the base of Galesville Dam are being elevated to a Level 2. A Level 1 ” Be Ready” notice is also being issued for all residents living on Windy Creek Road at and above Woods Creek Road. Barton Road south to Glendale Junction Road.
A community fire information meeting will take place tonight at Glendale High School at 7pm.
Size: 11,009 Acres Containment: 5% Start Date: July 24, 2019 10:00pm Expected Containment Date: Unknown Location: One mile south of Canyonville, Oregon Cause: Human Caused Est. Cost: $2,100,000 Personnel: 931
Resources: 37 hand crews 41 Engines 11 Dozers 6 Water Tenders
Aircraft: 5 Type 1 Helo 5 Type 2 Helo 3 Type 3 Helo 2 SEATs Evacuations: Level 2 and Level 1 Structures Threatened: 586 Structures Damaged: 0 Structures Destroyed: 0
After a busy couple of weeks for our firefighters, we’re happy to see rain in the forecast! Since the Medco B Fire broke out, we’ve gotten a lot of questions centered around the start of Fire Season. The reason we’re not declaring Fire Season just yet is our fuels – grass around the region is still green, and with the precipitation we’re expecting to see this week, it’ll likely remain that way into June.
With that being said, there are things you can do now to help protect your home from wildfires this summer. May is #wildfireawarenessmonth, and the following tips can save you and your family, your home, and our community.
• Make sure campfires or debris burns are completely out before walking away • Create defensible space around your home (More info: www.swofire.com/wildfire-protection) • Keep vehicles on roads – don’t idle on dry grass • Report any smoke or potential fires you see
*This will be the final update on the Medco B Fire*
Crews on the Medco B Fire, located 10 miles north/northeast of Butte Falls, have turned the fire over to the property owner, who will be handling the last of the mop up process. In the last day, firefighters have made strides to up the containment; the fire is now 98-percent contained, and the final size of the fire remains 345 acres.
Medco B Fire
The Medco B Fire first broke out on Saturday afternoon across two logging units on private land; one that had been recently felled and bucked, the other logged several years earlier.
The investigation into the cause remains open. No evacuations were issued and no road closures were made. ODF Southwest Oregon District would like to thank our partners who have assisted us, including the U.S. Forest Service Hot Shots.
Crews are continuing to mop up the Medco B Fire, located 10 miles north/northeast of Butte Falls. It was first reported Saturday afternoon. A Task Force from this fire was sent to the Neil Rock Fire when it broke out Tuesday afternoon. The Southwest Oregon District is continuing to mop up both sites. The cause of this fire also remains under investigation.
