Lightning-sparked fires stretch firefighting resources

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2018-07-18

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The dozens of wildfires burning throughout Southern Oregon after Sunday’s lighting storm are stretching resources shared between state and federal agencies, and the state hasn’t reached extreme fire danger yet. The Oregon Department of Forestry has more than 1,000 personnel operating 25 engines, 10 dozers, 9 helicopters, 5 air tankers and 35 hand crews battling dozens of fires consisting of hundreds of acres in Jackson and Josephine counties, according to ODF spokeswoman Melissa Cano. More resources are coming, although Cano couldn’t provide specifics because back-and-forth sharing of resources between nearby state and federal agencies makes the numbers nebulous in the thick of multiple wildfires, including a pair of 100-plus acre fires in Jackson County among more than a dozen wildfires between Jackson and Josephine counties. “It’s kind of a messy time,” Cano said. “We’re trying to make it work.” That’s separate from fires within the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, such as the 170-acre Hendrix fire located eight miles southeast of Ashland, and 14 fires burning near Prospect and Butte Falls. The teams coming in are nearing the limits, according to Cano. “Resources are already difficult to come by, and will continue to be difficult to come by because we’re stretched so thin,” Cano said. Here’s the latest update available Tuesday on the status of the larger fires in our area: Grave Creek fires The four fires in this group are about 17 miles north of the town of Rogue River in the vicinity of Upper Grave Creek Road several miles east of Wolf Creek and visible from the community of Wimer. No structures are threatened. The total area of the fires is estimated at 115 acres. The fire with the most potential to spread was Grave Creek Fire No. 3. Aerial and ground crews were continuing to aggressively attack those fires and working to lengthen fire lines along the flanks Tuesday. Winds along ridgelines could challenge those fire lines. Pleasant Creek fire Located 15 miles north of Rogue River, this fire is estimated at 60 acres. Ground crews were working to build lines around the fire Tuesday while aircraft dropped water on the leading edge of the fire to stop further spread. No structures were threatened. Spencer Creek fires This is a group of about three fires approximately 12 miles south of Grants Pass. The fires are highly visible from Interstate 5, Grants Pass, Applegate, Williams and the Illinois Valley. The combined size of the fires is estimated at 105 acres. Two of the fires were lined overnight. No structures are threatened. Green Top Mountain fire This fire 5 miles northeast of Eagle Point is holding at 125 acres. Firefighters completed control lines around the perimeter of the fire Monday night. Containment stood at 45 percent Tuesday. Ground-based firefighters and aircraft continued to knock down interior heat” Tuesday. Sterling Creek fire Located 7 miles south of Jacksonville, this fire is estimated at about 100 acres and 30 percent contained. Ground crews and aircraft were attacking flames inside the perimeter of the fire Tuesdayday. Trail Creek and Elk Creek Drainage fires Multiple fires are burning in the area surrounding Cleveland Ridge, Elk Creek and the Trail Creek area, roughly 5.5 miles north to northwest of Shady Cove. There are about 10 confirmed fires on ODF-protected land within the drainage, the largest of which is estimated at 20 acres. Several fires within the drainage were lined on Monday, including an 18-acre fire. Several of the fires are 1 acre or less in size. Overall the fires are 50 percent contained. No structures are threatened.