ODF Firefighters Making Progress on Lightning Incidents as Area Temperatures Increase

Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team 3 assumed command of the Grizzly Complex -- consisting of 24 lightning fires -- yesterday along with the Neil Creek Road Fire that is not part of the complex. The ODF Southwest District continues suppression efforts on additional fires sparked by lightning on Monday. As of last night, more than 1,300 personnel were assigned to the fires, with many more on the way. These additional crews and resources continue to arrive to provide relief to existing district personnel, allowing them to continue work on other fires and be ready to respond to potential new fire starts. Significant progress was made on numerous fires with continued aggressive, direct suppression efforts. The Neil Creek Road Fire south of Ashland was holding at 250 acres as crews completed dozer line on the south end of the fire and continued to build direct lines elsewhere around the fire's perimeter. A Level 2 "Be Set" evacuation notice remains in place for area residents and one lane of Interstate 5 in both directions is still closed between mileposts 8.5 and 10.5. The Deming Gulch Fire northeast of Buncom is currently estimated to be 250 acres while the Heppsie Mountain Fire near Lake Creek was holding at 40 acres in size. The North Fork Deer Creek Fire in the hills east of Selma was holding at 42 acres, the Jim Me Peak Fire south of Applegate was last reported to be 70 acres and the Palmer Peak Fire near Applegate was 90 acres. No acreage estimate was provided for the Holcomb Peak Fire southwest of Williams. Other small fires are staffed. ...Read more

National Weather Service Posts Extreme Heat Warning for SW Oregon & NW California

Residents in Southern Oregon and Northern California are being warned to brace for extreme heat over the next several days. The National Weather Service has posted an Extreme Heat Warning for the region starting Saturday afternoon and running at least through Monday evening, probably longer. The NWS advisory includes Jackson, Josephine and eastern Curry counties in Oregon along with Siskiyou County, California. Dangerously hot conditions with high temperatures of 100 to 105 are expected. Low temperatures will be mainly in the mid- to upper-60s. Heat-related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat and high humidity events such as this one. Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors -- especially the elderly. Never leave children or pets unattended in a vehicle during extreme heat. This heat wave may extend into Tuesday and Wednesday. Monitor the latest forecasts for weather updates. ...Read more

Groundbreaking for New GP Water Treatment Plant Set for Next Thursday Morning

Next Thursday at 10 a.m., the City of Grants Pass will break ground on its replacement water treatment plant on SE J Street. It's a significant step on the journey of securing reliable drinking water for decades to come. The journey for the new Grants Pass Water Treatment Plant began in 2011 when the City discovered a structural failure in the clear well of the current plant on SE M Street, which was built in the 1930s. In 2012, the City began the process of determining how to address the issues of the aging plant. After researching the options to either repair or replace the water plant, the Grants Pass City Council in 2014 chose to replace it. In 2020, the City completed the property acquisition for the new plant. Future plans call for a metal building to be installed in 2026, subsystem functional testing in 2027 and achieving substantial project completion in 2028. ...Read more