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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW UPDATE: Gov. Kate Brown says school districts must provide annual lead reports ... Planning for Rogue Basin drought resiliency ... Southern Oregon fire crews prepare for long, hot summer ... UPDATE: Gov. Kate Brown says school districts must provide annual lead reports ... Planning for Rogue Basin drought resiliency ... Southern Oregon fire crews prepare for long, hot summer ... WILDFIRES Southern Oregon fire crews prepare for long, hot summer 100 fire-crew members on hand in Jackson, Josephine counties Comment By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil Posted Jun. 21, 2016 at 3:27 PM Updated Jun 21, 2016 at 4:49 PM By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil Posted Jun. 21, 2016 at 3:27 PM Updated Jun 21, 2016 at 4:49 PM » Social News With fire season in full swing and climate models pointing toward the likelihood of above-normal temperatures through the summer, wildland firefighters in southwest Oregon say their small army of equipment and personnel is ready to respond. The Oregon Department of Forestry's southwest Oregon division includes 100 firefighters split between Jackson and Josephine counties. The crews are responsible for 1.8 million acres of public and private land in the two counties. "Most of them are experienced, have been here before, and have been firefighters with us in previous years," said ODF spokesman Brian Ballou. The Medford and Grants Pass ODF offices have 11 engines, three bulldozers and two tanker trucks at their disposal. No contracts for helicopters or air tankers have been completed yet, but other aircraft are on standby if needed in short order. "We can draw them in pretty quickly from Redmond or from Redding down in California," Ballou said. "It's really not too hard to get hold of a couple air tankers if we need to." Equipment and personnel are already in demand across the West. Fires in California, New Mexico and Arizona are threatening hundreds of homes and forcing evacuations, according to the Associated Press . Last week, a New Mexico fire destroyed 24 homes south of Albuquerque. It might just be the beginning of a long summer. Climate prediction models from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration show much of the western U.S. — including southwest Oregon — has a 50-50 shot of above-normal temperatures for the next three months . In Oregon, fire danger is still low to moderate throughout the state, according to an ODF news release. Despite that, a wildland blaze grew to 100 acres five miles west of The Dalles Monday evening before crews from the agency's Central Oregon District snuffed it. Called the Chenoweth fire, it burned through the night. From Jan. 1 to Tuesday, June 21, ODF crews responded to 186 wildland fires that burned a collective 2,302 acres throughout Oregon. Lightning was the cause of fires that burned 2,125 of those acres. Fires on the remaining 177 acres were started by humans. With Independence Day about two weeks away, fire officials are urging residents to keep fireworks away from wildlands. "As we get into the hot months of summer, it's going to become critical," Ballou said. Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected]. Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil . By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil Posted Jun. 21, 2016 at 3:27 PM Updated Jun 21, 2016 at 4:49 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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