Local News

Firefighters worked overnight on numerous small lightning-sparked fires along the lower Rogue River in Josephine County, making good progress on most incidents and completely extinguishing others. Following thunderstorms this week, the Oregon Department of Forestry said 10 fires were reported on the steep terrain northwest of Rand and Galice. Resources from ODF, the Medford District BLM and Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest immediately responded. As a result, all fires have been caught or being held at one acre or less and only three remain active with crews engaged. Resources today include numerous hand crews, engines and helicopters of various sizes. As of this morning, the active fires included the Horseshoe Bend Fire north of Horseshoe Bend Campground, the Big Windy Fire near Windy Creek and the Trout Creek Fire north of Trout Creek. All were a half-acre or less in size. Fully-extinguished incidents included the Crooks Creek Fire, Hewett Creek Fire, Howard Creek Fire, East Fork Big Windy Fire, Montgomery Creek Fire, Missouri Creek Fire and Long Gulch Fire. ODF Public Information Officer Natalie Weber said this will be the final update for these fires unless conditions significantly change. She said chances for thunder and lightning are once again predicted for the coming weekend. Please be aware of and follow all current restrictions to reduce the risk of human-caused fires.

 

Grants Pass Police incarcerated a man for a total of six crimes yesterday following a domestic violence incident at a residence near Riverside Park. The Police Department reports officers arrested the 37-year-old male subject for the incident at a home in the 1300-block of SE Vista Drive on Wednesday shortly after 11 a.m.. Police said the subject contacted a woman at her residence despite a court order protecting her from him. They said he walked into her home as she was leaving. After a verbal altercation, he grabbed a black Glock BB gun out of his vehicle, pointed it in her direction, and threatened to kill her and himself with the weapon. According to the report, the man then left the scene in a vehicle and was located a short time later parked across the street at the city park. He was placed into custody and the BB gun was seized as evidence. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon, Domestic Menacing, Stalking Order Violation, Criminal Mischief and Criminal Trespass. He was being held without bail.

 

A Josephine County corrections client was jailed on a statewide felony warrant yesterday after he surrendered to police at the Grants Pass office. Grants Pass Police arrested the 47-year-old male subject at the Corrections Office on NW 4th Street on Wednesday at 3:53 p.m.. Police said the man went to the local corrections office to turn himself in on an active Oregon State Parole Board warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a conviction for Felony 2nd-Degree Assault. The man's corrections officer detained him until officers arrived on scene and placed him into custody. After the warrant was confirmed, the suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man wanted on a local felony warrant yesterday during an early morning patrol check near Caveman Bridge. According to the Police Department, officers were patrolling Redwood Highway near West Park Street when they spotted the 30-year-old male subject standing on the corner at 1:44 a.m. Wednesday. Officers contacted the subject and discovered that he was wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant for failing to appear in court for Unlawful Use of a Weapon. He was also found to be in possession of a glass pipe with a white crystal residue that he admitted was methamphetamine. It was seized for destruction. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and was being held on $30,000 bail. He was also cited for the narcotics violation.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for punching a vehicle while demonstrating aggressive behavior in the downtown area yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident at the corner of SE 6th and I streets on Wednesday around 3 p.m.. Police said a 39-year-old male subject caused public alarm, annoyance and inconvenience when he engaged in tumultuous and violent behavior. They said he walked into traffic and punched a vehicle, intentionally ran into a person with his shoulder and then challenged a Dutch Bros employee to fight with him. Officers arrived on scene and placed the man into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct and was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for violating a court order by dropping off a letter to the protected party. The Police Department reports officers were alerted to the domestic disturbance at a home in the 2100-block of NW North Hill Drive on Wednesday at 4:16 p.m.. Police said a 45-year-old female subject was contacted and admitted to placing a letter on a neighbor's door that was addressed to a woman who was protected from her by a stalking order. The order stated the subject is not to have any contact with the other woman including written messages. The suspect was placed into custody for Contempt of Court-Stalking Violation before being lodged without bail at the Josephine County Jail.

 

The Illinois Valley Fire District and Oregon Department of Forestry extinguished two small vehicle fires in the Cave Junction area last night. On Wednesday at 6:45 p.m., IVFD and ODF responded to a single-vehicle fire on Golf Club Drive at Redwood Highway near the Illinois Valley Golf Course. IVFD officials said the occupant was able to get himself and his dog out of the vehicle before the flames started. They said the blaze was put out and the cause was under investigation. On Wednesday at 7:09 p.m., IVFD and ODF responded to a second small vehicle fire in the 500-block of Martin Road. Officials said the fully-engulfed vehicle spread flames to nearby brush and ODF crews were able to stop further spread of the fire into the surrounding wildland while IVFD crews doused the burning vehicle. According to IVFD, they were able to utilize more personnel on these two fires due to a recent Oregon State Fire Marshal Wildland Staffing Grant.

 

The Dutchman Peak fire lookout on Tuesday evening reported a fire burning near Donomore Meadows along the Oregon-California border. The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest reports aviation resources and the Galice Wildland Fire Module were immediately dispatched to the area and upon arrival, estimated the fire at 4-5 acres burning in steep timber near the 2025 road. Additional resources assigned to the incident included hand crews, engines, a water tender, a bulldozer and a heavy equipment boss along with air tankers, helicopters and an air attack platform to coordinate air response. Firefighters worked through the night to partially construct hand-line and dozer line at the flanks of the fire. However, the fire burned actively overnight with numerous spot fires at the head of the blaze which has grown to about 25 acres. US Forest Service crews continued suppression efforts on Wednesday. Additional resources have arrived and are engaged on the incident. There will continue to be a robust aviation presence as firefighters work to protect the Donomore Cabin and the Pacific Crest Trail. Additional smoke reports were responded to on the High Cascades, Wild Rivers, Gold Beach and Powers Ranger Districts, and resources have been deployed to these areas. Citizens are advised to stay clear of fire operations where helicopters are dipping from waterways. Please give firefighters plenty space to work safely.

 

Firefighters have been responding to several fires along the lower portion of the Rogue River following thunderstorms on Tuesday night. Resources are engaged on at least 10 small fires in Josephine County, with the majority located on BLM public lands on both sides of the river northwest of Rand and Galice. The fires range in size from 1/100th of an acre to one acre. Officials said these fires have likely remained small due to rain that came with the weather system as well as aggressive initial attacks by firefighters from the Oregon Department of Forestry. Aircraft has been key on these incidents as all fires are in remote areas with difficult terrain. Crews are hiking in as far as two miles to reach fires on steep, dangerous ground. The current list of fires includes the Crooks Creek Fire east of Selma, Horseshoe Bend Fire north of Horseshoe Bend Campground, Howard Creek Fire northwest of Rand, East Fork Big Windy Fire near Windy Creek, Big Windy Creek Fire north of East Fork Big Windy Fire, Trout Creek Fire north of Trout Creek, Long Gulch Fire southwest of Trout Creek, Missouri Creek Fire north of Bear Camp Road, Hewett Creek Fire south of BLM Road 32-10-36 and Montgomery Creek Fire southwest of Rainie Falls. Firefighters and aircraft continue to monitor the area for additional lightning-sparked fires. BLM and ODF are bracing for chances of additional thunderstorms that are predicted for this coming weekend.