Local News

Firefighters worked through the night to hold and improve control lines on the East Evans Creek Fire, taking advantage of improved humidity and securing wind-impacted areas of the now 14,437 acre, 8% contained blaze. The latest update from the Oregon Department of Forestry reports crews continued engaging areas overnight where the fire crossed Board Mountain spot fire control lines. Structural and wildland firefighting resources are being repositioned today to support these efforts. The main blaze and the spot fire northwest of Hull Mountain remain in hold and mop-up status. On the Canyon Creek spot fire, firefighters maintained containment while continuing to deepen mop-up operations. Structure protection efforts expanded into the Antioch, Pomeroy, and Jones Road areas. Additional crews and equipment are also positioned alongside local resources to strengthen initial attack capability. Aircraft will support ground operations as forecasted dry, hot, and windy conditions allow. According to the Watch Duty app, the following evacuations are active by level:
- Evacuation Level 3 Go Now: Zones JAC-017, JAC-109, JAC-124 JAC-126, JAC-149-B, and JAC-203-A.
- Evacuation Level 2 Be Set: Zones JAC-016, JAC-026, JAC-111, JAC-112, JAC-127, JAC-131, JAC-132, JAC-133, JAC-134, JAC-147, JAC-148, JAC-149-A, and JAC-203-B.
- Evacuation Level 1 Be Ready: Zones JAC-003, JAC-004, JAC-014, JAC-036, and JAC-158, Shady Cove Zones SHC-151, SHC-152, SHC-153, SHC-154, SHC-156, and SHC-157, and Douglas County Zones DOU-1012, and DOU-1015.

 

Firefighters pushed forward on East Evans Creek Fire progress, holding and strengthening lines around spot fires, and increasing containment to 8% on the 13,999 acre blaze. According to the Oregon Department of Forestry, mop up operations on the main fire continued last night across the southern, western, and northern flanks, with all control lines holding. Lines on the Board Mountain and Canyon Creek spot fires held as well. Resources tackling the blaze include 58 hand crews, 128 engines, 67 heavy equipment units, 55, water tenders, and 14 aircraft. Structural firefighters continued overnight mop-up operations around threatened structures. The past 36 hours provided a break in high temperatures and lower relative humidity, but firefighters are prepared for potential increased fire activity. Crews will watch for spot fires and areas where the fire could threaten existing lines. According to the Watch Duty app, the following evacuations are still active by level:
- Evacuation Level 3 Go Now: Zones JAC-017, JAC-109, JAC-124 JAC-126, JAC-127-A, and JAC-149-B.
- Evacuation Level 2 Be Set: Zones JAC-016, JAC-026, JAC-111, JAC-112, JAC-127-B, JAC-131, JAC-132, JAC-133, JAC-134, JAC-147, JAC-148, and JAC-149-A.
- Evacuation Level 1 Be Ready: Zones JAC-003, JAC-004, JAC-014, JAC-036, and JAC-158, Shady Cove Zones SHC-151, SHC-152, SHC-153, SHC-154, SHC-156, and SHC-157, and Douglas County Zones DOU-1012, and DOU-1015.

 

Smoke from the East Evans Creek Fire is affecting visibility along area roadways.

The Oregon Department of Transportation says that, while sometimes the best thing to do is get off the road until conditions improve, there are other options for driving under smoky skies.

Slow down and stay alert. This will give you more time to respond to unexpected conditions. Turn on your low-beam headlights even during daylight hours. Your headlights will help others on the road see you. If you have them, fog lights can also help cut through the smoke.

Drivers should keep plenty of space between themselves and other vehicles in case of sudden stops. If visibility becomes too dangerous to continue, pull off to the side of the road as soon as safely possible. Roll up the windows, and set your fan to recirculate.

ODOT warns to never stop in a travel lane. Look for a safe area completely away from the road if possible and turn off all lights, including emergency flashers, until it’s safe to continue.

Lastly, don’t tailgate. Keep a steady, reliable pace and remember that everyone else on the road is in the same fix.

 

Travelers can expect delays next week as a highway maintenance project continues on Oregon Highway 238.

The Oregon Department of Transportation reports crews will repair cracked and rutted pavement on portions of the highway in the Applegate Valley.

Monday and Tuesday, July 20th and 21st from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the work zone will include a section of the highway from milepost 18 east for two miles to milepost 20.

Then Wednesday and Thursday, July 22nd and 23rd from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the work zone will include sections between mileposts 7 and 14, near Grays Creek Road to Provolt.

The highway will be limited to a single lane through the work zone. Traffic will be controlled by flaggers and pilot cars. Expect delays of less than 20 minutes and reduced speed through the work zone.

Allow extra travel time and watch for crews and equipment. Consider using an alternate route to avoid delays. This work is weather dependent and schedules may change.

 

Two suspects passed out in the Lawnridge Park bathrooms were arrested by Grants Pass Police on drug charges.

A call to 911 Thursday at 1:22 p.m. reported the two suspects in a bathroom stall in the 1099 NW Hawthorne Avenue park. The two of them were believed to be under the influence. Another caller reported one suspect was sitting on the toilet, and the other was sitting on the floor.

Officers arrived and detained both individuals, identifying them as Damien Silva and Jesse Bailey. They were found to be in possession of tooters, tin foil, and, according to the police report, fentanyl.

The two were taken into custody and transported to the Josephine County Jail. While the officer report shows the two were lodged for Fentanyl Possession, jail logs report they were lodged on Meth Possession charges.

Silva and Damien were both given 30 day exclusions from the park, and later released on their own recognizance.

 

Grants Pass Police lodged a woman following a theft complaint from Walmart Thursday afternoon.

The suspect, Heather Lage, was apprehended by loss prevention at the 135 NE Terry Lane store around 1:08 p.m. She had reportedly stolen almost $770 worth of merchandise including clothes, camping gear, and toys.

She had passed all points of sale before being stopped. She was cooperative while loss prevention detained her, and upon arrival of law enforcement, she was arrested for Second Degree Theft.

Upon a search at the Josephine County Jail, Lage was found to have an extra $10.95 on her person. She told the officer the money was stolen from Walmart. She was subsequently lodged on her theft charge.

 

A propane tank, for undetermined reasons, exploded near an RV, spreading fire across a property located on Fruitdale Drive near Mt. Baldy Road in SE Grants Pass Thursday.

The fire resulted in the mobilization of a 2-alarm response around 5:21 p.m. from Rural Metro Fire, Grants Pass Fire, Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District, American Medical Response, Jackson County Fire District #1 and the Josephine County Sheriff's Office.

Rural Metro reports crews arrived to find the RV fully involved with fire that had spread to another RV, a small shed, and other accumulation located on the property. Firefighters were able to keep the fire from extending to other structures and the wildland.

The 2100 block of Fruitdale Drive was temporarily closed to accommodate fire suppression operations. One occupant on the property was transported to the hospital with undisclosed burn injuries.

A deputy with the Oregon State Fire Marshal assisted on scene with the investigation. Anyone with credible eye-witness information regarding the initial ignition is asked to call Rural Metro Fire at (541) 474-1218.

As part of the 2-county mutual aid system, additional units were called in from Applegate Fire District and Illinois Valley Fire District in a standby mode to handle any new emergencies.

 

West Nile virus (WNv) has been detected in a mosquito pool collected July 15th in Eagle Point, marking the first time in 2026 that the virus has been detected.

July, August, and September are considered peak months for WNv activity in Jackson County. The mosquitoes were collected by the Jackson County Vector Control District as part of a routine surveillance program and DNA testing.

County vector control districts around the state use these pools to collect mosquitoes so they can be tested for mosquito-borne diseases that affect humans and animals, such as birds and horses.

Residents are urged to take basic precautions against mosquitoes since WNv is spread to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes. People are encouraged to consult their health care providers if they experience any flu-like symptoms, especially in people older than 50 with underlying health conditions. The virus also affects wildlife and domesticated and farm animals.

OHA and the Jackson County Vector Control District suggest these steps to protect against mosquitoes: Eliminate or treat sources of standing water around your home, avoid outdoor activities at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active, and use repellants containing DEET, oil of lemon/eucalyptus, or Picardin. You can also wear long-sleeved shirts and pants when outdoors, and ensure that screen doors and windows are in good condition.

 

A member of the Josephine County Search and Rescue (SAR) team located human remains believed to be connected to a homicide case. The team member was checking along Reuben Mountain beyond the Grave Creek Bridge Thursday around 12:15pm. Based on observations along the roadside, they suspected human remains were in the area. Due to a lack of cell phone service in the area, the SAR member began driving back towards Merlin to make phone contact with investigators. They came upon Oregon State Police troopers and a Sheriff’s Office deputy at the Galice Resort and relayed their observations. Law enforcement responded to the reported area and traversed down the steep, rugged terrain where the deceased person was located. Detectives from the Oregon State Police, Grants Pass Police Department, Josephine County Sheriff’s Office and District Attorney’s Office then responded to the scene with a rope team from Search and Rescue. The rope team was able to successfully recover the deceased person, whom investigators believe to be Randall “Randy” Hecker. However, confirmation will still need to be completed during a pending autopsy with the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office. Next of kin have been notified.