ODF Firefighters on SW District Prepare for Hot Weather and Increased Fire Activity

Resources from Oregon Department of Forestry Complex Incident Management Team 3 and ODF's Southwest District continued to make progress last night with good overnight recovery of temperatures and humidities. But with temperatures increasing, today's focus will be holding the progress and expanding on success. ODF Team 3 is managing a group of lightning fires dubbed the Grizzly Complex as well as the Neil Creek Road Fire west of Interstate 5 near Ashland. Local crews continue suppression efforts on additional fires sparked by lightning along with initial attacks on new fire starts in Jackson and Josephine counties. More than 1,300 personnel are assigned to the fires, with more arriving today. On the Neil Creek Road Fire, crews completed additional direct line and continued mop-up operations across the whole perimeter. With updated mapping, the incident is now estimated to be 200 acres. A Level 2 "Be Set" evacuation notice remains in place for area residents and one lane of southbound I-5 is 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 has increased to 50 acres. The nearby Poole Hill Fire increased slightly to 12 acres. 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 estimated to be 70 acres, the Palmer Peak Fire southeast of the Jim Me Peak Fire was holding at 90 acres and the Benson Gulch Fire west of Buncom was fully-lined at 13 acres. No size estimates were provided for the Sulfur Springs Fire south of Buncom or the Holcomb Peak Fire southwest of Williams. The use of aircraft continues to be a critical asset, with 20 helicopters and fixed-wing planes flying today. ...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