Waldo, Ridge Vista Fires Hold Steady as Crews Deepen Mop-Up Near Cave Junction
Crews deepen mop-up as extreme fire weather continues
🔥 Fast Facts
Waldo Fire
Location: Waldo Road area near Cave Junction
Acres: 31
Containment: Not reported
Evacuations: Level 1 “Be Ready” remains in effect
Personnel: Approximately 70
Equipment:
3 20-person hand crews,
3 Type 6 engines
1 water tender
1 dozer
1 faller module
Activity: Crews completed about 70 feet of mop-up inside the perimeter overnight. One spot fire on the east side was quickly contained.
Ridge Vista Fire
Location: Ridge Vista Drive area near Cave Junction
Acres: 15.5
Containment: Not reported
Evacuations: Returned to normal status
Personnel: Approximately 70
Equipment:
3 20-person hand crews
3 Type 6 engines
1 dozer
2 water tenders
Activity: Firefighters completed 80 to 100 feet of mop-up inside the perimeter overnight and continue searching for lingering heat.
Cause: Both fires remain under investigation
Updated: July 21, 2026, AM
CAVE JUNCTION, Ore. — Firefighters pushed mop-up operations deeper into the Waldo and Ridge Vista fires overnight, continuing efforts to eliminate lingering heat and strengthen control around both fires before another day of extreme fire weather in the Illinois Valley.
Cooler overnight temperatures gave crews a more favorable window to work inside the fire areas, allowing firefighters to expand mop-up distances and search for hidden pockets of heat.
Both fires remain within their existing footprints Tuesday morning.
The Waldo Fire remains at 31 acres, while the Ridge Vista Fire remains at 15.5 acres.
WALDO FIRE
Firefighters completed approximately 70 feet of mop-up inside the perimeter of the Waldo Fire overnight.
Crews also discovered a spot fire on the east side of the incident. Firefighters quickly attacked and contained the spot before it could become established.
Approximately 70 personnel are assigned to the Waldo Fire Tuesday, including three 20-person hand crews, three Type 6 engines, a water tender, a dozer and a faller module.
The faller module is working to remove hazardous trees weakened by the fire, allowing firefighters to safely continue suppression and mop-up operations in areas where standing snags remain a concern.
The Waldo Fire remains at 31 acres.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
RIDGE VISTA FIRE
Crews made additional progress overnight on the Ridge Vista Fire, completing between 80 and 100 feet of mop-up inside the fire perimeter.
Firefighters are continuing to extinguish lingering heat and strengthen the fire’s edge as suppression work moves farther into the burned area.
Approximately 70 personnel are assigned to the Ridge Vista Fire Tuesday, including three 20-person hand crews, three Type 6 engines, a dozer and two water tenders.
The Ridge Vista Fire remains at 15.5 acres.
Its cause also remains under investigation.
EXTREME FIRE WEATHER REMAINS A CONCERN
Tuesday’s work will focus on building on the progress made over the past several days by deepening mop-up, gridding for hidden heat and preventing either fire from escaping its current footprint.
Firefighters are again facing extremely hot temperatures and critically dry fuels, conditions that increase the risk that remaining heat could produce additional spot fires.
Crews are prepared to quickly respond to any new fire activity while continuing suppression work on both incidents.
EVACUATIONS
Evacuation areas associated with the Waldo Fire remain at Level 1 “Be Ready.”
Evacuation areas associated with the Ridge Vista Fire have returned to normal status.
Residents should continue to monitor the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office for the latest evacuation information.
RELATED
Cover image: Firefighters work through burned vegetation while searching for lingering heat and strengthening control around the Waldo and Ridge Vista fires. Photo courtesy Oregon Department of Forestry
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