Firefighters assigned to the Salt Creek Fire located approximately 10 miles east of Eagle Point made significant progress last night, lining 40% of the largest wildfire in southwest Oregon so far this year.
The Oregon Department of Forestry reports the wildfire is burning on steep ground along Salt Creek Road and is currently estimated to be 1,500 acres. It was first reported just after 4 p.m. Sunday. The cause is under investigation.
ODF Incident Management Team 1 has been briefed and will shadow current resources today before taking command of the wildfire tonight. This will bring in additional resources and allow local districts to be ready for additional fire starts.
Fire activity naturally decreased last night when the sun went down and extremely hot temperatures dropped. With this advantage, resources were able to put in a mix of bulldozer and hand lines constructed along the entire northern portion of the blaze. The eastern and southeastern flanks remain largely unlined and they are the focus of the day shift today.
A total of 321 personnel are assigned to the Salt Creek Fire today including 12 20-person hand crews backed by nine engines, 10 water tenders, seven bulldozers and six tree-fallers. Six helicopters, two large air tankers and one very large air tanker made numerous retardant drops last night to help box in the wildfire.
The Jackson County Sheriff's Office and Jackson County Emergency Management have issued Level 1 "Be Ready" evacuation notices for Zones JAC-316, JAC-317, JAC-319 and JAC-321. These zones are north of Highway 140 in the Lake Creek area, east of Salt Creek Road, and south and west of Fish Lake Road including the Willow Lake area. There are no structures threatened at this time.
Salt Creek Road and Wasson Canyon Road are closed at Highway 140, and Double Day Road is closed off Butte Falls Highway. Highway 140 and Butte Falls Highway remain open at this time.
