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More rec sites close as Rum Creek Fire doubles in size By Dave Smigelski Updated: Aug 28, 2022 08:22 AM A A A helicopter attack crew works to contain the Rum Creek Fire burning in the Lower Rogue River Canyon near Rainy Falls Thursday. [Jamie Lusch / Mail Tribune] The Rum Creek Fire doubled in size Saturday to 8,404 acres, spurring local officials to close more areas along the Rogue River in one of the most heavily used recreational corridors in Southern Oregon. The Bureau of Land Management and Josephine County closed all recreation sites along the Rogue from Hog Creek to Grave Creek, including Hog Creek County Park, Indian Mary Park and Campground, Ennis Riffle County Park and Almeda County Park and Campground. BLM recreation sites that closed include Hog Creek, Hellgate Overlook, Stratton Creek, Rainbow, Carpenter Island, Rocky Bar, Robert Dean, Chair, Rand, Smullin Visitor Center, Argo and Grave Creek. Additional public lands closures exist around the Rum Creek Fire, including the Rainie Falls Trail and the Lower Rogue River Trail. Boaters will not be able to put in or take out starting at the Hog Creek boat ramp downstream to Grave Creek. Robertson Bridge County Park is the farthest downstream recreational river takeout. As of Sunday morning, Bear Camp Road remained open, according to an update from the team fighting the fire. “The BLM doesn’t take river closures lightly and we tried to keep the river open as long as possible,” said Bill Dean, Grants Pass field manager. “We apologize for the impacts to the rafting community and will reopen these recreation sites as soon as it is safe to do so.” Windy conditions pushed Rum Creek Fire southward Saturday, and firefighters worked through the night to protect the area between Rand and Galice, according to an update posted on Inciweb. Air quality in Medford was good Sunday morning, but smoke and haze were expected to push into the area later in the day. The Illinois Valley was very likely to see periods of unhealthy air quality Sunday afternoon, the National Weather Service office in Medford reported. For more information about the Rum Creek Fire, see www.facebook.com/rumcreekfire2022 ; or https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8348/ To be added to the daily email list, please email [email protected] Reach Mail Tribune Editor-in-Chief David Smigelski at 541-776-4484 or [email protected].