KLDR - Local News

ODF Incident Management Team Transitioning Salt Creek Fire to Local Districts

Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team #1 remains engaged on the Salt Creek Fire in Jackson County, but a transition back to the local districts is in the works. ODF reported this morning that the wildfire burning between Eagle Point and Butte Falls was 4,102 acres with 84% containment. Today is the final day for the current team, which will disengage from the fire on Thursday morning and return command of the incident to a local Type 3 team. During this transition, work continues on the fire and mop-up remains the focus for resources on the line. The increasing containment illustrates the amount of work firefighters have been able to complete in the last few days. Repair work also continues across the fire as crews put in water bars and rehabilitate other areas affected by the firefighting efforts. A total of 695 personnel were assigned to the wildfire for today's day and night shifts. This includes 25 20-person hand crews backed by 20 engines, 12 water tenders, five bulldozers and seven helicopters of various types. Level 1 "Be Ready" evacuation notices remain in effect for Zones JAC-316, JAC-317 and JAC-325-A. Any changes to evacuations will be made by the Jackson County Sheriff's Office and Emergency Management. The Medford District BLM has temporarily closed its lands in the area for safety. The Salt Creek Fire was first reported July 7th and has cost an estimated $13.5 million to fight. ODF officials said the cause remains under investigation.

Posted on 7/17/24 11:26AM by Sam Marsh

ODF Firefighters Battling Several Lightning-Sparked Fires on Rogue near Galice

The Oregon Department of Forestry was continuing to make access to at least eight lightning-sparked fires on both sides of the Rogue River northwest of Galice. ODF officials reported firefighters were able to reach two fires overnight and begin an aggressive initial attack. They said the remaining six fires range from "difficult" to "impossible" to access by road or on foot and aircraft will be their best tool to battle these blazes. None of the fires saw substantial growth since last night. An ODF Southwest District Type 3 helicopter that hosts a helitack crew was on the way to the area, and additional helicopters from the Salt Creek Fire and air tankers will be used throughout the day. Four additional 20-person crews from the Jackson County wildfire have been reassigned to the lower Rogue incidents. Officials said the area where these fires are burning is in and around numerous fire scars including the 2022 Rum Creek Fire and the Big Windy Fire from more than a decade ago. In some areas, this may help firefighters get an upper hand while in others it may provide additional challenges, with steep terrain, falling trees and rocks, and little or no access points. A Rapid Extrication Module (REM) and additional medical staff have been relocated from the Salt Creek Fire to this general area as firefighter safety is a primary concern. At this time, there are no road or campground closures associated with these fires. Please be aware of firefighters working in the area. Fire engines and equipment are expected to have a heavy presence over the next several days.

Posted on 7/17/24 11:25AM by Sam Marsh

IVFD and ODF Firefighters Engaged First Lightning-Caused Fire in Selma Area

Illinois Valley and Oregon Department of Forestry firefighters engaged the first detected lightning-caused fire in the Selma area yesterday afternoon. On Tuesday at 3:37 p.m., crews from IVFD and ODF were dispatched to the fire reported in the area of Mooney Mountain Road and two Forest Service roads. At 6:02 p.m., the grass fire was estimated to be around 1.5 acres with dozens of people battling the blaze and a Type 2 helicopter on the way. No structures were threatened as crews built a line around the incident. At 7:43 p.m., the scene was turned over to ODF and crews remained working there overnight assisted by two IVFD water tenders.

Posted on 7/17/24 11:22AM by Sam Marsh

Firefighters Put Out Lightning-Caused Blaze in Crooks Creek Area near Selma

Firefighters extinguished a lightning-sparked fire in the mountains above Selma last night. The Oregon Department of Forestry reports crews responded to a report of smoke on a hilltop near Crooks Creek Road late Tuesday afternoon. The Crooks Creek Fire was estimated to be 3/4 of an acre as resources mounted an initial attack, working to get a line around it. A Type 2 helicopter was ordered to assist in the firefight. By 8 p.m., firefighters had halted the wildfire at an estimated one acre and it was fully lined. Resources continued to mop up until the fire was fully extinguished. After thunderstorms moved through the southwest Oregon region again last night, resources are watching areas where lightning strikes occurred and will respond to any other lightning-caused fires.

Posted on 7/17/24 11:20AM by Sam Marsh

Kitchen Fire Destroyed RV Being Used as Home on Haines Lane in Merlin

A kitchen fire destroyed a recreational vehicle being used as a residence in the Merlin area last night. On Tuesday at 10:11 p.m., Rural Metro Fire Department was dispatched to a reported large vehicle fire on Haines Lane. Rural Metro officials said the occupant was able to knock down the blaze with a fire extinguisher prior to the arrival of firefighters. They said a smoke alarm was sounding, but it wasn't a factor in the discovery of the fire. No one was injured. Firefighters encourage anyone using an RV for camping or as a primary residence to be sure smoke alarms are working, and a fire extinguisher is charged and easily accessible.

Posted on 7/17/24 11:18AM by Sam Marsh

Central Point Structure Fire Spread to Adjacent Field and Threatened Houses

A Central Point structure fire spread to an adjacent field and threatened several homes late yesterday. On Tuesday at 4:05 p.m., Jackson County Fire District #3 reported crews were responding to a fully-involved structure in the 4,000-block of Grant Road near Scenic Drive. There was a large smoke plume and the blaze had spread to a field. Ten minutes later, the fire was upgraded to a second alarm which brought the Oregon Department of Forestry, Medford Fire Department and Ashland Fire- Rescue to the scene. Crews worked to provide structure protection for nearby homes and to stop forward progress of the rapidly spreading grass fire. With the fire estimated to be between 15 and 20 acres, forward progress was stopped on the east and north sides of the incident. All neighboring structures were protected from the flames. ODF crews continued to work on the south and west sides of the blaze with support from aircraft including helicopters. By 5:05 p.m., firefighters had knocked down the flames on all sides and began mopping up. Crews from mutual aid partners were released, but Fire District #3 remained on scene mopping up hot spots. Residents in the area received a Level 1 "Be Ready" evacuation notice from the Jackson County Sheriff's Office that was upgraded to Level 2 "Be Set" at the height of the incident. All evacuation notices were lifted later in the evening.

Posted on 7/17/24 6:43AM by Sam Marsh

GP Crews Busy with Dollar Mountain Fire plus Downed Trees & Power Lines

Grants Pass firefighters knocked down a small fire on Dollar Mountain last night. On Tuesday at 8:07 p.m., Grants Pass Fire & Rescue was dispatched to a fire burning in the mountainous area in the northwest part of the city. Arriving units found a 1/10th of an acre blaze burning slowly in grass and brush. Two Battalion Chiefs, Engine 7308 from the Parkway Station and a fully-staffed brush truck were able to stop the fire's progression within five minutes of arrival. Engine 7307 responded from the Hillcrest Station to the top of NW Starlite Place to assist with finding the smoke and for potential structure protection. The cause of the fire was under investigation. Between the hours of 4:30 and 7:30 p.m., Grants Pass fire units responded to 14 calls related to the thunderstorm. Fortunately, there were no grass fires reported inside the city limits. All three Grants Pass engines and a brush truck assisted with downed trees, downed power lines and blocked traffic throughout the city. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to assist Rural Metro Fire Department with two vegetation fires outside the city limits, with one being less than 1/100th of an acre.

Posted on 7/17/24 6:41AM by Sam Marsh

ODF Responded to Numerous Lightning-Sparked Fires on Lower Rogue River

The Oregon Department of Forestry responded to at least eight lightning-sparked fires along the lower Rogue River northwest of Galice late yesterday and last night. ODF officials reported all the discovered fires were very small, ranging in size from 1/10th of an acre to a half-acre. The fires were located on steep, remote land that is difficult to access. Most required a long hike in and at least one required aircraft to drop firefighters off as the only means of access. Three 20-person hand crews were shifted from the Salt Creek Fire in Jackson County to the lower Rogue fire incidents. Additional resources were to be sent to the incidents this morning. Firefighters will engage in an aggressive initial attack on all of these fires today. An infrared flight has been ordered which will give better information about fire locations and sizes as well as identify additional potential starts that could be smoldering in the area. There are currently no closures or evacuations of surrounding roads or campgrounds.

Posted on 7/17/24 6:40AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Arrested Ashland Man for Multiple Crimes after Traffic Stop near Murphy

The Oregon State Police jailed an Ashland man for multiple crimes after catching him with a stolen vehicle on Williams Highway near Murphy this week. OSP reports state troopers spotted a Ford Transit cargo van near milepost 7.5 of Highway 238 on Monday evening. Troopers said they stopped the cargo van after learning that it had been recently stolen in Ashland. The driver of the vehicle -- identified by OSP as "31-year-old Thomas Harley Ray Epperson" -- was placed into custody. His passenger was identified as a 33-year-old Ashland woman. She was detained, but not arrested. Epperson was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for two counts of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon. He was held without bail. The registered owner of the recovered cargo van responded to the scene to retrieve his vehicle. Another vehicle -- a Dodge Ram 1500 -- was also listed as stolen by the suspect, but no other information was provided by OSP.

Posted on 7/17/24 6:32AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Woman for Aggressive Behavior at Morrison Centennial Park

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for her aggressive behavior at a city park this week. The Police Department reports officers were alerted to the incident at Morrison Centennial Park on Rogue River Highway on Monday. Police said a 35-year-old female subject shouted at people in the park and -- at one point -- she grabbed a large stick and waved it around at people. She was pointing the stick at people and shouting random statements when officers arrived on scene. According to the report, the woman's behavior caused public alarm that prompted multiple 9-1-1 calls. However, no was hurt during the incident. The suspect was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct. She was also trespassed from Morrison Park for 30 days.

Posted on 7/17/24 6:30AM by Sam Marsh

GPPD Encountering Growing Trend of Trespassed Campers Not Leaving Parks

The Grants Pass Police Department has been encountering a growing trend of people camping in city parks even after they have been trespassed. One of the most recent examples of this trend happened on Monday when GPPD officers contacted a 50-year-old woman living in a tent at Lawnridge Park in the northwest part of the city. According to the report, the female subject had threatened to kill a man and his son. No other information was available on this incident. The suspect was found to have been trespassed from the park for 30 days on July 2nd, but she was still there this week. She was placed into custody for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail.

Posted on 7/17/24 6:29AM by Sam Marsh