East Evans Creek Fire Reaches 11,551 Acres as Spot Fires Push Toward Canyon Creek
Five Zones Now at Level 3 as Additional Engine Strike Teams Arrive for Structure Protection
FAST FIRE FACTS
Name:
East Evans Creek Fire
Location:
Approximately seven miles west of Shady Cove
Acres: 11,551
IR Mapped, 7/16/26
Containment:
5%, latest reported
New activity:
Additional spot fires active near Hull Mountain, Board Mountain and Canyon Creek
Evacuations:
Level 3 - 5 zones
Level 2 - 12 zones
Level 1 - 14 zones
Shady Cove at Level 1
Resources:
48 hand crews
87 engines
42 heavy equipment
39 water tenders
13 aircraft
Air operations:
Smoke limited air tanker use; helicopters continued supporting ground crews
Structure protection: Four additional Type 1 engine strike teams arriving Thursday
Current concerns:
Spotting, difficult terrain and hotter, windier weather returning Friday
Shelter:
Eagle Point Middle School, 477 Reese Creek Road
Cause:
Vehicle crashed into a power pole; the cause of the crash remains under investigation
Updated:
July 16, 2026, 10:00am
Flames burn along a ridgeline beneath a smoke-filled sky during active fire behavior on the East Evans Creek Fire near Shady Cove. (Photo by Amber Kish)
EVACUATION UPDATE: JULY 16, 2026, 10:30 am
Jackson County officials upgraded JAC-017 to Level 3: Go Now Thursday morning. The zone includes the 18400 through 19400 blocks of East Evans Creek Road, including the intersection with West Fork Evans Creek Road.
Residents in JAC-017 should leave immediately. Jackson County sheriff’s deputies are conducting door-to-door notifications.
Officials also upgraded JAC-026 to Level 2: Be Set. That zone includes the 15500 through 18000 blocks of East Evans Creek Road. Residents should be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice.
East Evans Creek Fire AM update for 7/16/26.
A helicopter operates through heavy smoke while supporting suppression efforts on the East Evans Creek Fire. (Oregon Department of Forestry)
SAMS VALLEY, Ore. — The East Evans Creek Fire grew to 11,551 acres overnight as firefighters worked to contain new spot fires, hold existing control lines and expand structure protection ahead of another change in weather conditions.
Containment remains at 5%.
On the southern perimeter, fire spotted across East Evans Creek Road into an old fire scar northwest of Hull Mountain. Farther east, the approximately 1,000-acre Board Mountain spot fire ignited another spot fire toward Canyon Creek.
Air tankers slowed the Canyon Creek spot fire Wednesday evening while firefighters constructed line around much of its perimeter overnight. Crews will work Thursday to complete and strengthen those lines.
Five evacuation zones are now at Level 3: Go Now, including the newly created JAC-127A zone along Highway 227 and Highway 62. Additional Level 2 and Level 1 notices remain active across northern Jackson County, Shady Cove and portions of Douglas County.
Four additional strike teams of Type 1 engines are expected to arrive Thursday to expand structure protection in the Ramsey Creek, Trail and Shady Cove areas.
NEW SPOT FIRE PUSHES TOWARD CANYON CREEK
Spot fires continued to challenge firefighters across the incident overnight.
The Board Mountain spot fire threw another spot fire east toward Canyon Creek. Air tankers were used Wednesday evening to slow its growth while firefighters began constructing line around the new perimeter.
Crews completed fireline around much of the Canyon Creek spot overnight and will continue closing gaps and reinforcing the line Thursday.
Additional firefighters and equipment remain positioned nearby in case the fire escapes existing control features or produces more spot fires.
LATEST FIRE MAPS
The latest public information and infrared maps show the updated 11,551-acre East Evans Creek Fire perimeter, spot fires and nearby communities, roads and public lands.
Select either map below to enlarge. View the full collection of current public information, infrared, operations, briefing and incident maps on the East Evans Creek Fire Maps page.
FIRE CROSSES EAST EVANS CREEK ROAD
A firefighter works near a home as smoke and isolated flames move through the surrounding trees. (Oregon Department of Forestry)
On the southern side of the incident, fire spotted across East Evans Creek Road into an old fire scar northwest of Hull Mountain.
The Hull Mountain spot fire and the southwestern edge of the main fire remained active overnight. Firefighters worked to establish control line around the spot fire while securing existing fireline along the main perimeter.
That work will continue Thursday with crews using direct attack where terrain and conditions permit.
SOUTHERN AND NORTHERN LINES HOLD
Despite the new spot fires, firefighters held established lines in several critical areas overnight.
The southern portion of the fire remained within control lines as wildland and structural crews continued mopping up around homes and expanding mop-up along the perimeter.
On the northern side, active fire behavior challenged lines in the Morrison Creek area but remained within the existing footprint. Crews will focus Thursday on reinforcing those lines and preventing the fire from moving beyond established control features.
ADDITIONAL ENGINES EXPAND STRUCTURE PROTECTION
Four additional strike teams of Type 1 engines are scheduled to arrive Thursday.
The added resources will support structure protection in the Ramsey Creek, Trail and Shady Cove areas. Firefighters are assessing homes, improving defensible space and preparing properties for changing fire conditions.
Unified Command continues coordinating wildland suppression and structural protection resources across the incident as priorities shift.
Crews and equipment are being positioned where they can quickly respond to spot fires, changing winds and threats to homes or infrastructure.
A structural fire engine moves through smoky conditions while supporting protection efforts on the East Evans Creek Fire. (Oregon State Fire Marshal)
COOLER WEATHER OFFERS BRIEF OPPORTUNITY
Thursday’s weather is expected to be more favorable for firefighters, with cooler temperatures, higher humidity and reduced winds.
Those conditions could give crews an opportunity to strengthen fireline, expand mop-up and improve containment around the spot fires.
Hotter temperatures and stronger winds are expected to return Friday, increasing the potential for active fire behavior and additional spotting.
The latest evacuation map showing level 1, 2, and 3 evacuations due to the East Evans Creek Fire. Residents should use the interactive Genasys map to check current conditions for a specific address. (Project Genasys)
EVACUATION LEVELS
Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and Jackson County Emergency Management continue maintaining Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 notices around the fire. Zones now stretch into Douglas County. Residents in Level 3 zones should leave immediately.
Level 3: Go Now
JAC-017
JAC-109
JAC-124
JAC-126
JAC-127A
JAC-149B
JAC-127A was created by splitting JAC-127 along Highway 227. The Level 3 area follows Highway 227 from its intersection with Highway 62 to Taylor Road and extends north along Highway 62 to River Heights Road.
Level 2: Be Set
JAC-016
JAC-026
JAC-111
JAC-112
JAC-127B
JAC-131
JAC-132
JAC-133
JAC-134
JAC-147
JAC-148
JAC-149A
Level 1: Be Ready
JAC-003
JAC-004
JAC-014
JAC-036
JAC-158
SHC-151
SHC-152
SHC-153
SHC-154
SHC-156
SHC-157
DOU-1012
DOU-1015
EVACUATION SHELTER IN EAGLE POINT
The evacuation shelter for residents and domestic pets is located at:
Eagle Point Middle School
477 Reese Creek Road, Eagle Point, OR 97524
The previous shelter at Hanby Middle School in Gold Hill is closed.
Pets are welcome at the Eagle Point shelter but are not permitted inside the school building. The American Red Cross is providing an area on the property for domestic pets.
People needing additional medical assistance or livestock sheltering help should call 541-776-7206.
Horses may be taken to:
Jackson County Expo
21 Peninger Road, Central Point
Owners should call before arriving to confirm space is available.
ROAD AND PUBLIC LAND CLOSURES
East Evans Creek Road remains closed to public traffic at Meadows Road.
The Bureau of Land Management has also closed:
West Fork Evans Creek Road
Rock Creek Road
BLM-administered lands surrounding the fire
Public entry into the BLM closure area is prohibited, including hunting, hiking and camping.
Officials are asking people to avoid the incident area so firefighters, engines and heavy equipment can operate safely.
SMOKE AND AIRSPACE RESTRICTIONS
Smoke may settle into valleys and other low-lying areas, reducing visibility and affecting air quality across nearby communities.
A 24-hour temporary flight restriction remains in effect over the incident. Flying a drone near the fire is illegal and may force firefighting aircraft to suspend operations.
CAUSE
The East Evans Creek Fire began at approximately 2:41 p.m. Friday, July 10, after a vehicle crashed into a power pole and ignited dry vegetation. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office continues investigating the cause of the crash.
Cover image: Smoke from the East Evans Creek Fire fills the sky above a forested ridge near ORE227 as evacuation levels increased. (Photo by Fran Settell)
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