Southern Oregon & Northern California News
Latest local news from Southern Oregon and Northern California, covering Medford, Ashland, Grants Pass, Klamath Falls, Jackson County, Josephine County, Klamath County, Siskiyou County, Del Norte County, and communities throughout the region.
One Killed, Two Injured in Separate Josephine County Crashes
Two separate crashes in Josephine County on October 26 left one man dead and two others injured. Brent Smith, 54, died after his pickup rolled down an embankment near Murphy. Hours later, a fiery head-on collision in Wolf Creek injured two people and led to the arrest of Arthur Espinoza, 40.
Truck Driver’s Quick Action Prevents Fire From Spreading Near School
A garbage truck driver helped prevent a larger fire near Manzanita Elementary School by dumping a burning load in an open parking lot. Rural Metro Fire and ODF extinguished the debris during Red Flag conditions.
Crews Stop New Grants Pass Fire as Mop-Up Advances on Larger Incidents
Firefighters stopped a new grass fire near Greenfield Road at one acre Monday while crews expanded mop-up operations on the I-5 MM 57 NB Fire and increased containment on the East Evans Creek Fire to 95%.
I-5 Fire Near Grants Pass Mapped at 96 Acres, Line Completed Around Perimeter
Firefighters completed line around the entire perimeter of the I-5 MM 57 Fire overnight. Infrared mapping measured the fire at 96 acres, but officials say the higher acreage reflects improved mapping rather than overnight growth.
I-5 Fire Near Grants Pass Estimated at 75 to 80 Acres, One Residence Reportedly Lost
An I-5 wildfire near Beacon Hill in Grants Pass grew to 75 acres Saturday evening as crews built hand and dozer line around 30% of the fire. Level 3 evacuations remain in place, two MAFFS aircraft are supporting the response, and initial reports indicate one residence was lost.
Mutual Aid Response Helps Stop West Jones Fire at 17 Acres
Rural Metro Fire says a fast mutual-aid response helped stop the West Jones Fire at 17 acres Monday evening near Grants Pass. Several homes were threatened along West Jones Creek Road and Rancho Vista Drive, but officials said all residences were protected.
Highland Avenue Crash Leaves Man Dead
A 22-year-old man died Tuesday morning in a two-vehicle crash on Highland Avenue in Grants Pass. Police said Gabriel Davis was killed when his car veered into oncoming traffic and struck another vehicle.
Mower Sparks Ament Road Grass Fire Near Grants Pass
A mower sparked a grass fire Sunday afternoon on Ament Road near Moon Mountain, according to Rural Metro Fire. Firefighters from Rural Metro Fire, Grants Pass Fire and ODF Southwest Oregon District controlled the fire at 1.75 acres with no structural damage reported.
Driver Seriously Injured in I-5 Rollover
A driver was seriously injured Tuesday afternoon in a single-vehicle rollover crash on Interstate 5 near Wolf Creek. Rural Metro Fire, responding on behalf of Wolf Creek Rural Fire Protection District, said firefighters removed the vehicle’s roof and windshield to extricate the driver.
Tree Crashes Into Two Homes Near Grants Pass
Two people were rescued and taken to the hospital after a thunderstorm brought down a tree in East Grants Pass, severely damaging two homes along Rogue River Highway. Rural Metro Fire said the injuries appeared to be non-life-threatening, and crews also responded to a damaged gas line caused by the uprooted tree.
Outbuildings Burn in Kerby Structure Fire
Fire crews responded Friday morning to a structure fire on Hathaway Drive in Kerby, where two outbuildings were fully engulfed. Illinois Valley Fire District says the nearby home sustained only minor damage, and no injuries were reported.
Driver, Passenger Decline Transport After Crash Near Merlin
Emergency crews responded to a crash near Merlin after an iPhone crash detection alert, where both occupants declined transport despite significant vehicle damage.
Fire Pit Ember Sparks House Fire Near Colonial Valley
A floating ember from an outdoor fire pit is believed to have caused a small house fire near Colonial Valley on Monday afternoon. Firefighters said the resident had mostly extinguished the flames before crews arrived.
Overnight Motorhome Fire in Murphy
A motorhome being used as a residence was destroyed in an overnight fire in Murphy. The occupant suffered minor burns while trying to extinguish the flames before the fire spread to a nearby vehicle and trees.
Three Rescued From Two-Story House Fire in Wilderville
Three people were rescued from a two-story house fire in Wilderville after a kitchen blaze trapped occupants upstairs. Firefighters used ladders to reach second-floor windows, while two people were taken to the hospital and several pets were also saved.
Semi Truck Fire Triggers Explosions on I-5 Near Sunny Valley
A semi truck carrying hazardous cargo caught fire on I-5 near Sunny Valley, triggering explosions and spreading into nearby vegetation. Fire crews from multiple agencies responded, and one firefighter was treated for smoke exposure as crews worked to contain the blaze and prevent environmental impact.
Crash Sparks Vehicle Fire After Attempted Firewood Theft
A vehicle caught fire after crashing on Robertson Bridge Road near Merlin Tuesday night. Officials say the driver had attempted to leave the area with firewood from private property before the crash occurred.
Lions Club Building Damaged in Cave Junction Structure Fire
Fire crews from multiple agencies responded Sunday morning to a structure fire at the Lions Club building in Cave Junction. Smoke was observed coming from the roofline upon arrival, and firefighters entered the building to confirm and extinguish the blaze. Utility crews and traffic control support were also requested, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Motorcyclist Airlifted; Two Fires Responded to in Josephine County
Emergency crews in Josephine County responded to multiple incidents over the weekend, including a motorcycle crash near Galice that required an airlift to a Medford-area trauma hospital. Firefighters also contained a half-acre brush fire caused by an unattended burn and extinguished a fully involved chicken coop fire ignited by a heat lamp, which resulted in the loss of eight baby chickens.