Local News

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office was looking for the pilot of a drone who shut down air operations over the Upper Applegate Fire last night. The Sheriff's Office reports fire personnel spotted an illegal drone flying in the area of the Ruch-area wildfire on Friday evening. Firefighting aircraft are unable to fly if a drone is in their operating area, so flights were grounded for the night. The Sheriff's Office and Oregon Department of Forestry are currently searching for the drone operator. The investigation is ongoing. If you have any information about the illegal drone, call the Jackson County Sheriff's Office Tip Line at (541)-774-8333.

 

Multiple agencies battled a large vegetation fire in the Illinois Valley on Friday. The Illinois Valley Fire District and Oregon Department of Forestry initially responded to the blaze in the 6,000-block of Holland Loop Road at 12:53 p.m. yesterday. Once IVFD and ODF units arrived on scene, the alarm level was bumped up to a Second Alarm Vegetation Fire. This brought units from Grants Pass Fire & Rescue and Rural Metro Fire Department along with more IVFD units to assist in control of the fire which burned primarily in a large grass field. IVFD Chief John Holmes said the fire was declared out after it burned a total of 19.7 acres. He said crews remained on scene most of the day to mop-up hot spots. The cause of the fire was under investigation.

 

Falling in line with the Oregon Department of Forestry, the City of Grants Pass has also increased the fire danger level to "moderate." ODF raised the bar on Thursday. Grants Pass Fire Marshal Joe Hyatt said warm weather in the area has dried out vegetation enough to prompt increased fire prevention regulations in the city, too. As of now, smoking in areas of flammable vegetation is prohibited. Open wood-fueled fires are prohibited including camp fires, cooking fires and warming fires except at locations designated by the City Fire Marshal. Wood smokers, charcoal and propane barbecues, and natural gas-fueled ornamental fires are allowed. The use of power saws, motorized mowing of dead or dry grass, and cutting, grinding and welding of metal is prohibited between the hours of 1 and 8 p.m.. The same goes for any other spark-emitting internal combustion engine in areas of flammable vegetation. The mowing of green lawns is permitted with no restriction. Motor vehicles -- including motorcycles and ATVs -- are only allowed on improved roads free of flammable vegetation. The City Fire Marshal or an authorized representative may -- in writing -- approve a modification or waiver of these requirements. For more information about fire season regulations in the City of Grants Pass, call the Fire Prevention Bureau at (541)-450-6200.

 

Wildfire is the #1 natural hazard in Jackson and Josephine counties. Two fires are currently burning in Jackson County -- the Upper Applegate and Highway 62 fires. While local air quality is expected to be good over the weekend, smoke levels can quickly rise and fall depending on weather factors including wind direction and the amount of smoke produced by wildfires. Wildfires burning in neighboring counties and states can also impact the air quality of the Rogue, Applegate and Illinois valleys. Therefore, people need to be prepared to take steps to protect their health during wildfire season. Wildfire smoke is a complex mixture of air pollutants that are harmful to human health. Exposure to pollutants in wildfire smoke can irritate the lungs, cause inflammation, alter immune functions and increase susceptibility to respiratory infections. Populations known to be vulnerable to wildfire smoke exposures include children, older adults, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions, outdoor workers and people of low socioeconomic status. Jackson County public health officials advise people to be aware of smoke concentrations in their area and avoid the places with the highest concentrations. Stay indoors and keep windows closed. Create a "clean room" in your home. Maintain good air quality by avoiding smoking inside, using aerosol sprays, frying or broiling meat, burning candles and vacuuming. As a last resort, leave the area and go to a place with cleaner air.

 

The City of Grants Pass says your tap water may not smell very good right now, but it's okay to drink. Grants Pass residents may have noticed some unpleasant odors in their tap water recently, but city officials want to assure them the water is safe to drink. They've run tests and ruled out harmful toxins related to algae and cyanobacteria. The city is working to mitigate this issue and officials suspect it may be Geosmin or Methyl-Isoborneol (MIB). These are naturally occurring compounds in lakes and rivers such as the Rogue where they source the city's drinking water. Officials said they're awaiting tests that would confirm Geosmin or MIB. The tap water odors should pass in a few days. In the meantime, activated carbon filters found in household water filtering pitchers can mitigate the odor.

 

A former Asante nurse charged with 44 counts of second-degree assault after she allegedly harmed patients by swapping prescription pain medication with non-sterile tap water has posted bail a little over one week after her arrest by Medford police. Jackson County Sheriff's Office spokesman Aaron Lewis confirmed on Friday morning that Dani Marie Schofield had been released from the Jackson County Jail at about 10:40 a.m. after a $400,000 wire transfer -- 10% of her $4 million bail -- was received by the Jackson County Circuit Court. The Rogue Valley Tribune reports a grand jury indicted the former Medford nurse on accusations of harming 44 patients in the intensive care unit of Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center over a year-long span while she allegedly stole fentanyl prescribed to ease their pain. Medford police announced that the Jackson County grand jury indicted Schofield on 44 counts of second-degree assault. That's one count for every patient she is alleged to have "intentionally or knowingly" injured through her actions from July 2022 to July 2023, which is when she stopped working at the hospital, according to police. Police say Schofield is accused of taking patients' fentanyl for her own personal use and replacing it with non-sterile tap water, causing them to develop life-threatening infections.

 

Firefighters continued to make good progress on both the Upper Applegate Fire near Ruch and the Highway 62 Fire near Shady Cove on Friday. The Oregon Department of Forestry reports the Upper Applegate Fire remains an estimated 500 acres while the Highway 62 Fire remains at 75 acres with 100% of the perimeter lined. The Upper Applegate Fire remains ODF Southwest's top priority. Firefighters have been able to build indirect line around 70% of the fire and 10% direct line at the fire's edge. However, steep, rocky terrain and hazardous snag trees are creating challenges for resources and slowing down progress. The region's largest wildfire so far this year was staffed overnight with 153 people including six 20-person crews, two engines, two water tenders and two bulldozers. Numerous aircraft remain assigned to the incident as well including three large air tankers, one very large air tanker and several helicopters based in Medford. Level 1 "Be Ready" evacuation notices remain in place for Little Applegate Road west of Upper Applegate Road and eastern portions of Sterling Creek Road along with Eastside Road south of Little Applegate Road to north of McKee Bridge. ODF officials have not yet determined the causes of the two wildfires.

 

With fireworks set to go on sale on Sunday, "Keep It Legal, Keep It Safe" is the message from the Oregon State Fire Marshal. The 2024 fireworks retail sales season begins tomorrow and runs through July 6th in Oregon. The state fire marshal would like everyone to know which fireworks are legal to use, where fireworks can be used and how to use them safely. To reduce the risk of starting a fire, some local governments have firework sales or use restrictions in place. Oregonians are encouraged to check local regulations and follow them where they live or where they may be traveling for the Fourth of July. Consumer-legal fireworks can only be purchased from permitted fireworks stands and retailers. State regulations limit where those fireworks may be used including public lands and parks. The possession and use of fireworks are prohibited in national parks and forests, on BLM lands, on US Fish and Wildlife properties, on state beaches, in state parks and in state campgrounds. Fireworks are also prohibited on many private lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry.

 

The Grants Pass Police Department has jailed an employee of a local nursing home for the alleged sexual abuse of elderly patients. The Police Department reports detectives arrested 28-year-old Michael Anthony Lee of Medford on Thursday at his place of employment, which was not disclosed. On June 16th, GPPD received a report of sex abuse involving an employee and patient at the unnamed nursing home. A subsequent investigation by detectives from the Major Crimes Unit -- conducted with assistance of management of the nursing home -- determined the suspect to be Lee. Detectives said Lee had worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant in both Grants Pass and Medford over the past three years. They said he allegedly targeted both female and male elderly victims for sexual assault -- and it's believed additional victims have not yet been identified. Michael Lee was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for suspicion of two counts each of Felony 1st-Degree Sex Abuse and Felony Attempted 1st-Degree Sex Abuse. He is being held without bail. GPPD is requesting assistance in identifying additional victims. Anyone with information in this case is urged to call Detective Miguel at (541)-450-6260 and reference Case #24-22321.