JACKSON & JOSEPHINE COUNTIES, Ore. (Oct. 26, 2024) – After 148 days, the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Southwest Oregon District is officially declaring an end to the 2024 fire season in Jackson and Josephine Counties, taking effect Sunday, October 27, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. Consistent rain across the district and incoming rain storms throughout the next week, along with new, green grass and vegetation growing in has allowed for all fire season regulations and Industrial Fire Precaution Levels (IFPL) to be lifted this weekend. This declaration affects 1.8 million acres protected by ODF across Jackson and Josephine counties. At this time, industrial slash burning still remains prohibited.
From June 1 to October 27, ODF firefighters responded to 243 fires across Jackson and Josephine counties, totaling 5,470 acres affected. The majority of those acres were on the Salt Creek Fire, the largest fire on the district in 2024; it reached 4,102 acres total. Due to near-record breaking heat waves with triple digit temperatures, thunderstorms with little to no rain, and steadily increasing fire danger in early July, the district ordered ODF Incident Management Team 1 to assume command of the Salt Creek Fire. This was the only IMT deployment on the district this fire season, with all other incidents being managed from start to finish by local staff.
The strategic decision of bringing in an incident management team allowed district personnel the ability to respond to 26 reports of fire that occurred during the two-week period the team was engaged on Salt Creek, significantly cutting down on the probability of another large fire on the district. Ten of those 26 fires were ignited by lightning, located on steep, remote terrain near the lower Rogue River in Josephine County, where most recently, the Rum Creek Fire of 2022 was located. Despite limited access, firefighters were able to keep all of these fires at an acre or less in size, extinguishing them all within the following 48 hours.
The largest fires of the season on the district are listed below:
| Fire Name | Date | Location | Acres | Cause | ||
| Salt Creek Fire | July 7 | Salt Creek Road MM 4, Jackson County | 4,102 | Under Investigation | ||
| Upper Applegate Fire | June 20 | 3900-blk of Upper Applegate Road, Jackson County | 1,142.5 | Equipment Use | ||
| Highway 62 Fire | June 20 | Highway 62 and 234, Jackson County
|
75 | Under Investigation | ||
| Dead Indian Memorial Road Fire | July 4 | Dead Indian Memorial Road, Jackson County | 43 | Under Investigation | ||
| Holland Loop Road Fire | June 21 | 5 miles SE of Cave Junction, Josephine County | 20 | Under Investigation | ||
| I5 MM 11.5 Fire | Sept. 4 | 5 miles SE of Ashland, Jackson County | 13 | Under Investigation | ||
| Hwy 234 MM 17 | July 31 | Dodge Bridge County Park, Jackson County | 10.75 | Under Investigation | ||
| Sugarpine Gulch Fire | July 21 | 2 miles NW of Rogue River, Jackson County | 7 | Lightning | ||
ODF has an annual goal of putting out 98% of fires at 10 acres or less; with seven out of 243 fires hitting that mark, the district nearly reached its goal, coming in at 97%. Fire season 2024 was challenging across the state of Oregon, resulting in millions of acres burned. The success on the district here locally is largely due to a fast and aggressive response to fires and collaboration with our local and federal partners.
The termination of fire season removes fire prevention regulations on equipment use and the use of fire for debris burning. This applies to the public and industrial operations on forestlands, however, industrial slash burning is still prohibited. Many structural fire agencies require permits for residential debris burning; please check with your local fire department to obtain any necessary permits before burning and ensure it’s a burn day designated by the county you reside in:
- Jackson County Burn Line: (541) 776-7007
- Josephine County Burn Line: (541) 476-9663
Even though the fire season is officially over, please continue to practice fire prevention when burning debris by ensuring a burn pile is never left unattended and using caution when using machinery that could cause a spark. While the heightened risk of fires has passed with the ending of the declared fire season, fires can still start and spread in fall and winter conditions. ODF firefighters will continue to be available to respond to fires throughout the year; partner with ODF and area fire agencies in fire prevention by following the debris burning guidelines put in place by your local fire department.
Fire prevention tips and information from the ODF Southwest Oregon District is available online at our Facebook page, @ODFSouthwest and our website, www.swofire.com.