Woodrat Fire Reaches 15% Containment as I-5 Fire Near Grants Pass Hits 91%
Crews deepen mop-up near Ruch while the MM 57 Fire moves toward full containment.
Fire Facts
Name:
Woodrat Mountain Fire
Location:
Woodrat Mountain Road near Ruch, south of Jacksonville
Acres: 282 acres
Containment:
15% contained and 100% hose lined
Mop Up:
50 feet completed around the perimeter, with crews working toward 100 feet
Evacuations:
No Level 3, Go Now, evacuations remain. Level 2 and Level 1 notices remain active.
Resources:
12 Hand Crews
7 Falling Modules
11 Engines
6 Water Tenders
2 Dozers
4 Type 1 Helicopters
3 Type 2 Helicopters
2 Type 3 Helicopters
Air Tankers
Activity:
Crews are gridding for remaining heat, extinguishing hot spots, deepening mop up, and removing hazardous snags.
Cause:
The fire began when a vehicle fire spread into surrounding vegetation. The official cause remains under investigation.
SOUTHERN OREGON — Firefighters are making substantial progress on two wildfires that have drawn significant resources across southwest Oregon, with the Woodrat Mountain Fire reaching 15% containment and the I-5 MM 57 NB Fire climbing to 91% containment.
The Woodrat Mountain Fire remains the more active of the two incidents, with crews continuing extensive mop-up and hazardous tree removal near Ruch. Meanwhile, firefighters on the MM 57 Fire near Grants Pass have completed their primary mop-up objective and are now searching for remaining heat as the incident moves toward full containment.
Aerial View / Cover Image: An aerial view shows the footprint of the Woodrat Mountain Fire across steep, forested terrain near Ruch as crews continue securing the 282 acre fire. Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon.
Woodrat Mountain Fire reaches 15% containment
The Woodrat Mountain Fire remains mapped at 282 acres and is now 15% contained following another night of progress.
Firefighters have completed approximately 50 feet of mop-up around the fire perimeter and are working toward a goal of 100 feet during Saturday’s day shift.
Crews are continuing to grid the burned area, identify remaining heat, and extinguish hot spots farther inside the perimeter.
Hazardous snags remain a significant challenge in portions of the fire. Specialized falling modules are working to remove damaged trees that pose a danger to firefighters operating below.
Burned Timber: Fire damage and hazardous trees remain visible inside the Woodrat Mountain Fire, where falling modules are working to remove snags that threaten firefighters. Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon.
The fire remains fully hose lined, giving crews water access around the perimeter as mop-up continues.
A large ground response remains assigned to the incident.
The south side is staffed with three falling modules, four 20-person hand crews, four engines, and two water tenders.
The north side has two falling modules, four 20-person hand crews, four Type 6 engines, two water tenders, and a dozer.
The eastern side, where steep terrain and dense vegetation continue making suppression more difficult, has two falling modules, four 20-person hand crews, three engines, two water tenders, and a dozer.
Aviation resources available Saturday include four Type 1 helicopters, three Type 2 helicopters, and two Type 3 helicopters. Air tankers are also available if needed.
Cooler conditions are expected Saturday following several days of critical fire weather and high temperatures. Conditions will remain warm, but the change should provide firefighters with more favorable conditions for methodical mop-up operations.
Evacuation notices remain active through the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management. All Level 3, Go Now, evacuation notices were downgraded Friday, but residents should continue monitoring current evacuation information because conditions can change.
The livestock shelter at the Jackson County Expo remains open.
The Red Cross evacuation shelter at Jacksonville Elementary School has closed following the evacuation downgrades.
Road closures remain at Griffin Lane and Sterling Creek Road, Little Applegate Road and Sterling Creek Road, and Little Applegate Road and Upper Applegate Road. Access beyond those closures is limited to residents and fire personnel.
A Temporary Flight Restriction remains over the fire.
The official cause of the Woodrat Mountain Fire remains under investigation. The fire was initially reported Thursday afternoon after a vehicle fire spread into surrounding vegetation along Woodrat Mountain Road.
Fire Facts
Name:
I-5 MM 57 NB FIRE
Location:
Interstate 5 near Milepost 57, north of Grants Pass
Acres:
100 acres
Containment:
91% contained
Mop Up:
Crews have completed the 300 foot mop up objective from the fire perimeter.
Activity:
Firefighters are gridding for remaining heat, extinguishing hot spots, and completing suppression repair.
Management:
A local ODF Type 3 Incident Management Team has assumed command.
Status:
ODF does not plan additional scheduled updates unless conditions significantly change.
I-5 MM 57 Fire reaches 91% containment
MM 57 Crew: Firefighters assigned to the I-5 MM 57 NB Fire near Grants Pass gather during suppression operations as the incident moves toward full containment. Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon.
The I-5 MM 57 NB Fire near Grants Pass remains at 100 acres and has reached 91% containment.
Firefighters have completed mop-up to a 300-foot objective from the fire perimeter and are now systematically gridding the area for any remaining heat.
Crews continue extinguishing hot spots that could pose a risk of rekindling while completing suppression repair throughout the incident area.
A local Oregon Department of Forestry Type 3 Incident Management Team assumed command of the fire Saturday morning.
Florida Complex Incident Management Team 1 has completed its assignment after supporting suppression efforts on the fire.
Firefighters will continue checking the burned area and completing repair work as the incident moves toward full containment.
ODF says this will be the final scheduled update on the I-5 MM 57 NB Fire unless conditions significantly change.
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