Local News

The Illinois Valley Fire District had their hands full in the final days before the start of the 2025 fire season, responding to at least four incidents. On Friday around 6:45 p.m., IVFD crews responded to a vegetation fire in the 4,000-block of Lakeshore Drive near Selma. Crews discovered two 10-by-10-foot burn piles exhibiting uncontrolled spread. The fire was extinguished and fully contained without incident. The property owner actively assisted with suppression. On Saturday at 2:33 a.m., IVFD was dispatched to a grass fire at the Six Mile Campground at the end of Illinois River Road. Upon arrival, crews observed a very small fire with civilians attempting suppression. Oregon Department of Forestry personnel assisted with putting out the fire, which originated from fireworks. On Saturday shortly after 11 a.m., IVFD responded to an escaped open burn in the 100-block of Patton Bar Road near Cave Junction. Crews quickly extinguished the fire at 1/10th of an acre. They were forced to return to the scene at 6:11 p.m. when the blaze reignited. Crews once again extinguished the rekindled fire.

 

Firefighters responded to at least two weekend fires that started when old burn piles thought to be out reignited in the North Valley area. On Saturday at 2:17 p.m., Rural Metro Fire Department was dispatched to a vegetation fire on Soldier Creek Road in the Colonial Valley area. Crews were able to contain the fire at about 1/4-acre before it could reach nearby structures. Rural Metro officials said an occupant of the property who was valiantly trying to fight the fire experienced heat exhaustion and was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center for an evaluation. They said the old burn pile sprung to life when afternoon temperatures rose and the wind picked up. On Saturday at 3:48 p.m., Rural Metro, Grants Pass Fire & Rescue and the Oregon Department of Forestry responded to a field fire in the 4400-block of Jumpoff Joe Creek Road. Officials said an aggressive initial attack stopped forward progression of the fire, which was contained at 3.2 acres. They said afternoon winds played a factor in the spread of the fire through light, flashy fuels. The cause of the fire was a burn pile that was believed to have been out three or four days before the incident.

 

The Grants Pass City Council will tackle a variety of items during its bi-weekly workshop session today. The City Council will open the workshop with a staff presentation on the lodging tax followed by discussion. Next up on the agenda is a Walkability Project in which the panel will review the Development Code for pedestrian mobility and safety. That will be followed by discussion of the parameters and funding of the Homeless Solutions Grant. During a review of the agenda for Wednesday night's regular meeting, the City Council will hear a motion from the Public Safety Advisory Committee. After the workshop, Mayor Clint Scherf will convene a Special Meeting in Executive Session. The closed-door meeting is being held for current or likely litigation. Today's workshop begins at 11:45 a.m. in the City Council Chambers at Grants Pass City Hall, 101 NW A Street.

 

The City of Grants Pass started the 2025 southwest Oregon fire season on Sunday, with the fire danger level in the "low" category. Adopted City Municipal Code 9.15 Regulated Closure took effect on Sunday at 12:01 a.m.. Several restrictions have gone into effect in the Grants Pass city limits. Smoking in areas of flammable vegetation is now prohibited. All open fires are prohibited including campfires, cooking fires and warming fires except at locations designated by the Grants Pass Fire Marshal. The use of natural gas, propane and charcoal barbecues and smokers as well as natural gas and propane ornamental fires is still allowed. Power saw use is permitted all day during low fire danger. Each power saw is required to have one shovel and one fire extinguisher of at least 8-ounce capacity. A fire watch of one hour is required following the use of each saw. The cutting, grinding and welding of metal in areas of flammable vegetation is permitted during low fire danger as is the mowing of dry, cured grass. Motor vehicles -- including motorcycles and ATVs -- are only allowed on improved roads free of flammable vegetation except for the culture and harvest of agricultural crops. The City Fire Marshal or an authorized representative may -- in writing -- approve a modification or waiver of these requirements. For more information about fire season regulations, call Grants Pass Fire Prevention at (541)-450-6200.

 

Grants Pass police officers and firefighters logged a busy seven days of activity in the week that included Boatnik. According to the Weekly Report filed by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, police officers responded to a total of 644 calls for service along with 265 officer-initiated calls that resulted in 51 arrests, 42 citations, 54 warnings and five highly-intoxicated people being lodged at the Sobering Center. Cubic also reported that officers conducted a total of 72 traffic stops in the city and they made 29 referrals to the Oregon Department of Human Services. The GPPD Community Response Team (CRT) made a total of 31 contacts with potential troublemakers while arresting two people, citing 20 more and warning 11 others. The CRT unit also trespassed 11 individuals from homes and businesses. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to a total of 118 calls last week including 45 for emergency medical service, seven reports of fire or smoke, 12 lift assists, eight rescue situations, 12 assists to other agencies and 10 false alarms. The Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center fielded a total of 1,288 emergency calls last week.

 

The Grants Pass Firefighters Association is thanking the community for its generosity after another successful "Fill the Boot" fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. In less than four hours on Friday, firefighters were able to raise more than $10,000 for MDA. The MDA supports research, care and families impacted by the neuromuscular disease. All of these donations go directly to this important organization. Fire officials said they could not have raised such a large amount of money in a short time without "our awesome community's support." They said if you missed them on Friday, they will be back next year.

 

A joint interagency task force served a search warrant related to child pornography at a Medford residence early yesterday. The Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team (SOCET) and Medford Police Department served the warrant at a home in the 3,000-block of Edgewood Drive on Thursday shortly before 8 a.m.. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office reports the search warrant was obtained after investigators discovered images of child porn were uploaded from the residence. Detectives interviewed possible witnesses and involved parties, but no arrests were made. The investigation is ongoing. SOCET began the investigation after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children which led to subpoenas and the search warrant. The SOCET investigation was assisted by the Southern Oregon High Tech Crimes Task Force and Ashland Police Department. During the search, investigators seized digital devices that will be forensically examined by the task force for further evidence of child exploitation. The investigation is active and ongoing. SOCET is a joint interagency task force that was launched in June 2020 to combat child exploitation. It consists of investigators from the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, Medford Police Department, Oregon State Police and the US Department of Homeland Security.

 

The Oregon State Police jailed a Williams man for crashing into another vehicle on Highway 238 near Murphy and then fleeing the scene late yesterday. OSP reports troopers responded to a hit-and-run crash near milepost 6 of Williams Highway on Thursday at 6:08 p.m.. Troopers said a 16-year-old male juvenile was driving a Lincoln LS and trying to turn onto a street when the driver of a Nissan Titan sideswiped the right rear side of his vehicle. The victim said the driver -- identified as 40-year-old Del Andrew Schneider -- failed to stop and exchange information. No one was injured. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office was able to locate the Nissan and detain Schneider. Upon being interviewed by troopers, he was arrested for Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage and lodged without bail at the Josephine County Jail. According to OSP, Schneider's vehicle was blocking a driveway so it was towed to Grants Pass.

 

Grants Pass Police captured a woman who was wanted on a local felony warrant yesterday after spotting her near a marijuana dispensary in the north part of the city. The Police Department reports officers arrested 26-year-old Aria Elizay Echavarria near Cannabis Connection in the 1900-block of NE 7th Street shortly after 11 a.m. on Thursday. Police said they observed Echavarria walking through the parking lot and knew she was wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant for 3rd-Degree Robbery, 2nd-Degree Theft and Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine. After the warrant was confirmed, Echavarria was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on $50,000 bail.