Hugo Road fire a conflagration

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2018-09-04

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Firefighters from around Oregon descended this morning on the new Hugo fire that ignited Sunday night in Josephine County, threatening more than 200 structures in lands west of Interstate 5. Gov. Kate Brown's conflagration declaration allowed the state fire marshal to mobilize firefighters and structural task-force equipment from Marion, Lane, Linn and Klamath counties as firefighters work hard to gain the upper hand on the 250-acre blaze 10 miles northwest of Grants Pass. Several Level 3 "Go" evacuations were in place in the Hugo Road, Oxyoke and Three Pines roads as well as Monterico Hitching Post roads, according to the Josephine County Sheriff's Department. The fire ignited about 7:15 p.m. and quickly spread but local wildland and structural firefighters made substantial progress overnight, with hand and bulldozer line surrounding about 80 percent of the fire by morning, according to the Oregon Department of Forestry. However, the fire was listed at 15 percent contained. A Red Cross shelter was set up today at the Josephine County Fairgrounds for people, pets and livestock displaced by the fire. Firefighters expect some damaged or destroyed structures, but no confirmations of losses were available early this afternoon. Downed power lines and even the report of a cougar sighting in the area dogged firefighters throughout the night as they worked in steep, rugged terrain with extremely dry fuels. Firefighters today were met with temperatures inching into the 90s and wind gusts of up to 30 mph on ridges, according to ODF. Plans today are to strengthen gains made Sunday night on the fire and attack from the air.