Firefighters Make Nighttime Push as Dozens of Southern Oregon Blazes Burn Amid Evacuation Alerts

JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. — Assuming command of most of the lightning-caused fires yesterday after using the cooler night to make progress, the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) indicated that its Complex Incident Management Team 3 continues to battle the blazes as more firefighters, crews, and additional resources arrive.

Southern Oregon Fires Updates

Making the most of cooler night temperatures, firefighters made significant progress overnight across all fires in Jackson and Josephine counties.

They held the majority of fires within their current footprints, minimizing growth. Seventy-two fires broke out between the two counties, but many have already been caught and extinguished at a small size.

As firefighters continue to provide aggressive, direct suppression on fires and push forward to build lines as hot and windy conditions persist, the most significant fires under ODF control yesterday were:

• The Neil Creek Road Fire: West of I-5 mile marker 10 and south of Ashland. An estimated 250 acres are still burning, and JCSO placed Zones JAC-536, JAC-542, JAC-543, JAC-546, JAC-558, and JAC-559 under a Level 2 – Be Set to evacuate notice.
• Deming Gulch Fire: Northeast of Buncom, was estimated at 250 acres as firefighters built additional lines along the west flank and continued to push forward, despite steep terrain. There are currently no evacuation notices on this fire.
• Heppsie Mountain Fire: South of Highway 140, firefighters completed the line around the fire yesterday, but the fire was still estimated to be 40 acres in size. A Level 1 – BE READY for a possible evacuation was issued for JAC-325-B, Heppsie Mountain Road south of Highway 140, and JAC-326.
• Poole Hill Fire: South of the Heppsie Mountain Fire, firefighters successfully held lines, keeping the fire completely contained at a final size of 11.5 acres. Heppsie Mountain Fire evacuation alerts also apply to this fire.
• North Fork Deer Creek Fire: In the hills above the 8000-block of Deer Creek Road east of Selma, the fire was 100% lined by yesterday at 42 acres. There are no current evacuation orders.
• Jim Me Peak Fire: The fire, in a remote area south of Applegate, was very active Wednesday night, but was held at around 70 acres. Resources continue to be engaged as hot, windy conditions persist.

• Palmer Peak Fire: Southeast of the Jim Me Peak Fire, firefighters building a line around the fire were 90% complete by yesterday, when the fire was estimated to be 90 acres.
• Holcomb Peak Fire: Southwest of Williams, crews gained the upper hand and lined 50% of the fire’s perimeter, which they continued to build yesterday.

Aircraft- a pivotal resource, will be used where needed. ODF confirmed that drone use around fires is illegal and dangerous to pilots working on incidents. It will be reported to law enforcement.

They said, “If you fly, we can’t.” All illegal drone use will be reported to law enforcement.

The regulations currently in place can be found at https://swofire.com/public-fire-restrictions/.