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Rum Creek Fire reaches Rogue River’s edge By Vickie Aldous Updated: Aug 24, 2022 11:53 AM A A The Rum Creek Fire is burning near the popular Rainie Falls Trail northwest of Galice. [InciWeb map] Rafting reopens for permit holders The Rum Creek Fire northwest of Galice reached 676 acres Wednesday and had burned to the Rogue River’s edge, fire managers said. The fire is burning on the south side of the river near the popular Rainie Falls Trail. An area closure remains in effect for the trail area and other Bureau of Land Management land along the river corridor below Grave Creek. However, the BLM in coordination with Northwest Incident Management Team 13 has decided to reopen the lower section of the Wild and Scenic Section of the Rogue River at Grave Creek to permit holders, with limitations, the agencies announced today. The river will remain open unless life safety becomes an issue. Its open or closed status will be posted at facebook.com/rumcreekfire2022 no later than 6 a.m. daily, officials said. For more information, call 541‐479‐3735. Firefighters are assessing ways to combat potential spot fires. Spot fires occur when winds carry embers across an established fire line or fuel break. In addition to building line around the main fire, firefighters are working to contain a spot fire near Mouse Creek on the east perimeter, fire managers said. Aviation support has been critical to slowing the Rum Creek Fire’s progression in the steep, rugged terrain of the canyon. Nine helicopters are now dedicated to the incident for water bucket drops and aerial reconnaissance, fire managers said. On the east flank of the fire, primary lines from the ridge top toward the river were completed Tuesday, and plumbing has begun. Plumbing is the installation of a system of water tanks, engines, pumps and hoses used to extinguish embers and hot material. Crews are working to establish contingency lines, fire managers. The Rum Creek Fire was sparked by lightning Aug. 17, according to the InciWeb Incident Information System. Air quality was in the unhealthy category close to the fire today, improving to moderate further from the fire and good in Grants Pass as of this morning, according to measurements taken for the fire. Air quality also was good in Medford, Talent, Ashland and Shady Cove, according to permanent Oregon Department of Environmental Quality monitoring stations. For air quality updates from those stations, see oraqi.deq.state.or.us/home/map . The weather forecast calls for wind out of the north on ridge tops, with gusts up to 20 mph. As the air heats up during the day, diurnal winds blowing up mountain and canyon sides could affect the Rum Creek Fire’s movement, leading to up-slope runs. North of Crater Lake today, the Windigo Fire was at 1,007 acres with 98% containment, the Potter Fire was at 627 acres with 84% containment and the Big Swamp Fire was at 110 Acres with 69% containment, according to InciWeb. In Northern California, the McKinney Fire was at 60,138 acres with 99% containment, and the Yeti and Alex Fires were at 7,886 acres with 90% containment, according to InciWeb. Reach Mail Tribune reporter Vickie Aldous at 541-776-4486 or [email protected] . Follow her on Twitter @VickieAldous .