UPDATED: East Evans Creek Fire Reaches 15,705 Acres as Mop-Up Expands, Containment Holds at 17%
Crews push suppression work deeper into the fire as triple-digit heat and a growing lightning threat remain concerns this week
FAST FIRE FACTS
Name: East Evans Creek Fire
Location: About 7 miles west of Shady Cove
Acres: 15,705
Containment: 17%
Mop-Up: Up to 150 feet inside the perimeter, 200 feet around some homes
Current Focus: Deepening mop-up and securing remaining heat
Evacuations: Level 1, 2 and 3 notices remain active
Weather: Triple-digit heat and possible thunderstorms
Cause: Vehicle crash into a power pole
Latest Maps: View current fire maps
UPDATE 12:00 pm:
A significant round of evacuation downgrades has been announced as firefighters continue making progress on the East Evans Creek Fire.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office has downgraded all remaining Level 3 “Go Now” evacuation zones associated with the fire. See the Evacuation Information section below for complete information.
East Evans Creek Fire AM update for 7/21/26
The July 21 public information map shows the updated 15,705-acre perimeter of the East Evans Creek Fire, including the main fire and separate fire areas extending toward Board Mountain, Boswell Mountain and areas west of Shady Cove. (Oregon Department of Forestry)
SAMS VALLEY, Ore. — The East Evans Creek Fire is now mapped at 15,705 acres as firefighters continue pushing deeper into the burned footprint and strengthening containment across the incident.
Updated official mapping released Tuesday morning reflects an increase of 690 acres from the 15,015-acre perimeter mapped Monday. Containment remains at 17%.
Cooler overnight conditions allowed crews to strengthen control lines and expand mop-up, with firefighters now reaching as far as 150 feet inside portions of the fire perimeter and approximately 200 feet around some homes.
Night crews also used infrared technology to identify and flag remaining hot spots, giving daytime firefighters precise areas to target as they continue extinguishing heat.
The progress and reduced threat to structures have allowed several structure protection task forces and strike teams to return to their home agencies, although crews remain positioned where protection is still needed.
Despite moderating fire activity over the past 24 hours, triple-digit temperatures, lower humidity and the possibility of thunderstorms could challenge that progress.
MOP-UP PUSHES DEEPER INTO FIRE
Firefighters carry equipment through burned timber while continuing mop-up and hotspot suppression on the East Evans Creek Fire. (Oregon Department of Forestry)
Firefighters continue steadily increasing the distance between remaining heat and established control lines.
Along the eastern edge of the main fire, mop-up has progressed as far as 150 feet into the burned area.
Across much of the remaining perimeter, crews have reached approximately 100 feet.
Around homes, structure protection crews have extended mop-up approximately 200 feet from structures, reducing the chance that hidden heat or burning material could threaten buildings or control lines.
Crews continue using infrared equipment, gridding and direct inspection to locate heat that may remain hidden underground or beneath heavy fuels.
BOARD MOUNTAIN REMAINS A PRIORITY
On the Board Mountain spot fire, firefighters continue addressing pockets of unburned vegetation within the perimeter.
Those green islands can become a future threat if they ignite and send embers toward established firelines.
Crews working the southern portion of the fire are being assisted by specialized tree-felling personnel removing hazardous and fire-weakened trees.
Steep terrain continues to make access difficult, keeping helicopters and heavy equipment important to suppression operations.
Structure protection resources remain near homes in the Antioch, Jones Road and Pomeroy areas.
CANYON CREEK CREWS TARGET SCATTERED HEAT
Around Canyon Creek west of Shady Cove, firefighters continue methodically extinguishing scattered pockets of heat where the fire burned unevenly.
Crews are extending mop-up in the Long Branch area, where fire previously approached homes.
Structure protection remains in place throughout Shady Cove, Trail and Dry Creek.
In the Dry Creek and Shiloh areas, firefighters are moving deeper into the fire footprint, removing hazardous trees, gridding for hidden heat and using heavy equipment to improve access through difficult terrain.
HULL MOUNTAIN AND RAMSEY CANYON WORK CONTINUES
Cover image: A helicopter supports suppression operations on the East Evans Creek Fire as crews continue using aviation resources to reach steep and difficult terrain. (Oregon Department of Forestry)
Northwest of Hull Mountain, crews continue pushing mop-up well inside the fire perimeter.
Near Ramsey Canyon Road, structure protection engines are using high-pressure pump systems to deliver water into steep terrain where firefighters are extinguishing remaining hot spots.
The deeper mop-up increases the buffer between remaining heat and established containment lines.
SOME STRUCTURE PROTECTION RESOURCES RELEASED
Days of suppression and preparation around threatened communities have reduced the immediate risk to some structures.
That progress has allowed several structure protection task forces and strike teams to return to their home agencies.
Releasing those resources increases statewide firefighting availability while the East Evans Creek incident maintains enough wildland and structural resources to respond if conditions change.
Fire managers are also strategically positioning resources so they can assist with new fire starts or other priority incidents across southwest Oregon if needed.
TRIPLE-DIGIT HEAT AND LIGHTNING REMAIN CONCERNS
Fire behavior moderated during the past 24 hours, but conditions could become more challenging again Tuesday.
Triple-digit temperatures, lower relative humidity and a lifting inversion could increase fire activity as the day progresses.
Isolated thunderstorms are also possible.
A Fire Weather Watch remains in effect Wednesday for the potential for thunderstorms and abundant lightning over dry fuels.
Lightning without significant rainfall could start new fires across the region, adding pressure to firefighting resources before another stretch of hot, dry and breezy weather returns later in the week.
LATEST FIRE MAPS
The July 21 briefing map places the East Evans Creek Fire at 15,705 acres and shows the main fire, associated spot-fire areas and the extensive network of control lines established around the incident. (Oregon Department of Forestry) View all current maps on the East Evans Creek Fire Maps page.
Updated official mapping released Tuesday morning places the East Evans Creek Fire at 15,705 acres, an increase of 690 acres from the 15,015-acre perimeter mapped Monday.
The July 21 maps show the main fire and associated spot-fire areas extending east toward Board Mountain and south toward Boswell Mountain, along with separate fire footprints near Canyon Creek and northwest of Hull Mountain.
The briefing map also shows an extensive network of completed control lines surrounding much of the incident as firefighters transition increasingly toward deeper mop-up and securing remaining heat.
Crews continue using infrared technology on the ground to locate hidden hot spots and guide suppression work.
View the complete collection of current public information, operations and briefing maps on the East Evans Creek Fire Maps page.
FIRE WEATHER
Firefighters could face more challenging conditions Tuesday after cooler, more stable weather overnight.
Expected concerns include:
Triple-digit temperatures
Lower relative humidity
A lifting morning inversion
Increasing potential for fire activity as temperatures rise
Isolated thunderstorms
A Fire Weather Watch remains in effect Wednesday for thunderstorms and the potential for abundant lightning on dry fuels.
Rainfall is not guaranteed, raising concern that lightning could start new fires across critically dry vegetation.
Hot, dry and breezy conditions are expected to return later in the week.
FIRE DANGER
Extreme fire danger remains in effect on Oregon Department of Forestry-protected lands across Jackson and Josephine counties. The Industrial Fire Precaution Level remains at Level 2.
Activities prohibited under Extreme fire danger include:
Using power saws, including battery- and electric-powered chainsaws
Cutting, grinding or welding metal
Mowing dried or cured grass
Operating other spark-emitting internal-combustion equipment
Mowing green, irrigated lawns and agricultural harvesting remain exempt.
Debris burning, fireworks, tracer ammunition and exploding targets remain prohibited. Campfires and charcoal fires are allowed only in designated campgrounds.
The threat of lightning this week also increases concern for new fire starts across the region.
EVACUATION LEVELS
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)
A major round of evacuation downgrades has been announced as firefighters continue making progress on the East Evans Creek Fire.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office has downgraded all remaining Level 3 “Go Now” evacuation zones associated with the fire.
The following Jackson County zones are currently at Level 2 “Be Set”:
JAC-016
JAC-017
JAC-026
JAC-109
JAC-124
JAC-126
JAC-147
JAC-148
JAC-149
JAC-203-B
Zones JAC-149A and JAC-149B have been recombined into a single JAC-149 zone.
The following zones are currently at Level 1 “Be Ready”:
JAC-003
JAC-004
JAC-014
JAC-036
JAC-111
JAC-112
JAC-127
JAC-131
JAC-132
JAC-133
JAC-134
JAC-158
JAC-161
JAC-203-A
JAC-204
SHC-151
SHC-152
SHC-153
SHC-154
SHC-156
SHC-157
Douglas County has lifted its remaining evacuation notices, meaning no evacuation notices associated with the East Evans Creek Fire remain in Douglas County.
Officials caution that evacuation levels can be raised again with little notice if fire behavior changes. Residents returning to affected areas should expect visible smoke. Anyone who sees active fire on their property should call 911. Smoke investigations can be requested through Emergency Communications of Southern Oregon at 541-776-7206.
Road closures remain in effect, including Long Branch Road and East Evans Creek Road between Meadows Road and West Fork Evans Creek Road. Those roads remain restricted to residents and personnel working the fire.
The East Evans Creek Fire is currently mapped at 15,705 acres and 17% contained.
EVACUATION SHELTER
Eagle Point Middle School at 477 Reese Creek Road is serving as the evacuation shelter for residents and domestic pets affected by the East Evans Creek Fire. (Google Street View)
The evacuation shelter for residents and domestic pets remains open at:
Eagle Point Middle School
477 Reese Creek Road, Eagle Point, OR 97524
Pets are welcome on the shelter property but cannot enter the school building. The American Red Cross has established a designated area for domestic pets.
Livestock sheltering remains available through the Jackson County Expo:
Jackson County Expo
21 Peninger Road, Central Point
Owners should call 541-776-7206 before arriving to confirm space is available. The same number may be used for medical or livestock sheltering assistance.
A Jackson County Roads employee staffs a closure as an electronic sign warns drivers of nearby fire activity. (Courtesy Jackson County Parks)
CLOSURES
The following closures remain in effect:
Tiller-Trail Highway from the Jackson County line to Highway 62
East Evans Creek Road at Meadows Road
West Fork Evans Creek Road
Rock Creek Road
Rogue Elk Park, including the campground, day-use area and boat ramp
Dodge Bridge Boat Ramp, currently used as a firefighting water-supply site
BLM-administered lands near the fire remain closed to public entry, including hunting, hiking and camping.
A 24-hour Temporary Flight Restriction remains in effect over the fire. Flying a drone near the incident is illegal and may force firefighting aircraft to stop operating.
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