'Get Ready' evacuation notices extended to near Grants Pass

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The Taylor Creek fire grew by nearly 2,000 acres Sunday to Monday and threatened a popular park on the Rogue River. The Josephine County Sheriff’s Office has expanded its evacuation notices for residents near the Taylor Creek fire west of Grants Pass and Merlin. The new order issued Monday evening lists a Level 1 “Get Ready” notice for residents living east of the Rogue River near Merlin and south of the Rogue River near Grants Pass. The order affects an area roughly 2 miles wide and 12 miles long, extending from Highway 199 near the Applegate River to about 2 miles north of Galice Road, northwest of Merlin. A Tuesday report listed the Taylor Creek fire at 26,950 acres and said the fire was 20 percent contained. The fire is the largest of about a half-dozen major blazes currently burning in Southern Oregon. Fire officials say the northern end of the fire continues to be the most worrisome and on Monday evening had moved down the hillside across the Merlin-Galice Road from Indian Mary Park on the Rogue River. The park was evacuated Monday afternoon. The Oregon State Marine Board filed a temporary rule to close boating effective immediately on the Rogue River from Hog Creek to Galice. Galice Road was blocked Monday between Hellgate Bridge and Taylor Creek Road. Residences on lower Galice Creek Road and Galice Road in the road blockage area are now on Level 3 (Go) evacuation. The Level 3 evacuation area includes Morrison’s Rogue Wilderness Lodge and the Hellgate River Lodge, where Hellgate Jetboat Excursion customers are normally served dinner. The Level 1 evacuation notice lets residents know they should be aware of the fire danger in the area and monitor emergency services websites and alerts. Josephine County residents can sign up for the county’s emergency notification system at www.rvem.org.