Firefighters Tackle 1.5 Acre East Evans Creek Grass Fire Monday
The Oregon Department of Forestry's Southwest Oregon District quickly established a wet line around a grass fire in the 5,000 block of East Evans Creek Road Monday. Crews were alerted to the blaze, leading to multiple ground resources, a Type 3 helicopter, and Air Attack being dispatched for an aggressive initial attack. By 12:35 p.m., additional aircraft were ordered, including two Type 1 helicopters, to support suppression efforts from the air. Firefighters established the wet line by 12:55 p.m., and continued the initial attack, strengthening the wet line and securing the perimeter. According to the Watch Duty app, crews were able to catch the fire at 1.5 acres despite critical fire weather conditions. Multiple aircraft were released from the incident, and hose lay is now around the entire perimeter.
...Read more
Jacksonville Man Sentenced To Prison For Tax and Fraud Crimes
A Jacksonville man was sentenced today for tax evasion, employment tax crimes, bank fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. According to a release, Joel Matthew Caswell, 32, was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison and 5 years’ supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $1,198,799.83 in restitution to the IRS. According to documents and statements made in court, Caswell owned and operated three logging and construction businesses that employed approximately 40 employees. From 2018 through 2022, Caswell withheld employment taxes from his employees’ pay and willfully failed to pay over these taxes to the IRS. Caswell attempted to evade these and other taxes by directing customers to write checks to another company or to him personally, moving business funds and lying to IRS collection officers. Separately, between 2022 and 2024, Caswell executed multiple fraud schemes that involved submitting fabricated financial records to a bank, a private lender, and the Small Business Administration to secure loans. On June 9, 2026, Caswell pleaded guilty to three counts of tax evasion, three counts of willful failure to pay over employment taxes, one count of bank fraud, one count of wire fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft.
...Read more
Final Fielder Mountain Fire Update Shows 81% Containment, Command Transferring to District
Further progress continues on the Fielder Mountain Fire as resources close in on completing mop-up operations and repair work. The Oregon Department of Forestry reports the fire is now 81% contained. ODF's Complex Incident Management Team (CIMT) 1 will be transferring command of the fire back to the Southwest Oregon District at 6 p.m. tonight. Local district personnel have been shadowing the team for the past day to gain situational awareness about the status of the fire and the work that needs to be completed. Firefighters still assigned to the fire will continue mopping up along the western and northern control lines to extinguish any remaining hotspots within the first 300-feet of the fire’s perimeter. Resources continue to build water bars and flatten bulldozer berms across the incident. Roads in the fire area will be left open to allow for future use if needed. Today, isolated thunderstorms are in the forecast, with temperatures predicted in the mid-90s.
...Read more
