June 21, 2025
THE DALLES, Ore. – The local Type 3 management team has made progress on wildfire suppression repair, chipping slash and using heavy equipment to restore areas affected by wildfire suppression efforts. As the restoration continues, crews will begin a glide path to demobilizing.
Today, there is a 70% chance of rain with west winds ranging 10-20 mph, gusts up 25 mph, and a slight chance of lightning. Given the forecast, firefighters are preparing for inclement weather. A soft closure of Highway 30 remains in place, local traffic only advised.
Wasco County will hold two Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) events next week to continue to assist individuals and families who have lost their homes or experienced significant damage due to the Rowena Wildfire. Public, private, and nonprofit organizations will join at the Gloria Center, located at 2505 W 7th St. in The Dalles, to offer a wide range of services and resources. MARC events will be held on Monday, June 23 from 12 to 3 PM and Wednesday, June 25 from 4 to 6 PM. For questions about the MARC, call 541-506-2724.
All evacuations have been lifted by the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office: www.facebook.com/WascoCountySheriff
The Rowena Fire Facebook page will remain open for now. A local Public Information Officer will remain available for further inquiry about the Rowena Fire via the email above.
Estimated Size: 3,700 acres
Containment: 93%
Cause: Under investigation
Estimated Cost: $9,135,821.00
Number of Personnel: 80
ODF Incident Commander: Brian Reel
June 21, 2025
RUCH, Ore. (June 20, 2025) – Progress on the Upper Applegate Fire continues to be made by resources working on the incident. On Friday, firefighters were able to complete the line around the fire and GPS map the perimeter on foot, determining the final fire size as 453 acres. Resources were also able to make progress on mop-up operations, increasing the completion of this work to 25% and bringing the total containment to 35% across the incident.
Cool, cloudy weather conditions were experienced across the fire on Friday, as well as some trace amounts of moisture at times. Wind remained a challenge to resources, but more rain in the forecast may provide a natural helping hand to firefighters engaged in mop-up efforts. Tonight, that work will continue, with 127 personnel assigned to the overnight shift. Resources include four 20-person crews, six engines, two bulldozers and four water tenders. These numbers are slightly fewer than previous overnight shifts; as work continues and progress is made, resources will be slowly decreased in an effort to be financially responsible and match the current need on the incident.
In the wake of progress across the fire, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management has decreased all Level 2 – BE SET evacuation notices to Level 1 – BE READY and cancelled other existing Level 1 – BE READY notices. All current evacuations and evacuation maps can be found on www.rvem.org/fires. Residents can enter their address and find their evacuation zone and any related notices and information. While roads are open around the fire, including Upper Applegate and Little Applegate roads, firefighters are still working in the area. Please be aware and cautious when traveling near the fire area.
The Upper Applegate Fire, located on private and BLM land on the 2000-block of Upper Applegate Road, was first reported at 12:30 p.m. on June 18 as a grass fire. Applegate Rural Fire District and the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Southwest Oregon District initially responded and found a fast-moving grassfire that was quickly growing in dry vegetation, and was pushed uphill by hot, windy conditions. Fire agencies from across Jackson and Josephine counties, including structural departments, the BLM and U.S. Forest Service Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, responded with an aggressive initial attack.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. For more fire information, including current fire regulations, visit our Facebook page, @ODFSouthwest or our website, www.swofire.com.
June 20, 2025
VENETA, Ore. -This morning ODF firefighters and contract resources are mopping up the Rice Road Fire in Mapleton in ODF’s Western Lane District, which broke out yesterday at the junction of Highways 36 and 126. The forward spread of the fire was stopped at 4.6 acres and both roads have reopened. Power was shut off briefly in the area but was restored last night. No structures were reported damaged by the fire. Investigators have been at the scene today looking to determine the cause.
Today ODF and contract resources are mopping up the fire to ensure any lingering hotspots or embers are cooled. On scene are 2 engines, a water tender, 2 20-person hand crews, and fallers. The public is asked to avoid the area due to safety issues from potentially fire-weakened trees.
# # #
June 20, 2025
RUCH, Ore. – Firefighters working on the Upper Applegate Fire in ODF’s Southwest Oregon District overnight had a successful shift strengthening lines and making progress on mop-up operations, reaching the 10% mark. Resources were also able to connect hose throughout the rest of the incident, allowing for water access across the entire fire; this will greatly aid firefighters today as they continue to push forward on mopping up the fire. An infrared (IR) flight was not able to be conducted overnight, so the fire remains an estimated 470 acres.
A chance of rain and thunderstorms is in the forecast today, and wind is expected to persist and even increase. Firefighters are ready to respond to any new fire starts. More than 250 personnel are assigned to the fire today, including nine 20-person crews, one 10-person crew, seven engines, three bulldozers and five water tenders. Numbers of aircraft across the fire remain the same.
# # #
June 19, 2025
VENETA, Ore. – Firefighters are actively engaged on a fire burning at the junction of Highway 126 and Highway 36 at Mapleton. The Rice Road Fire has caused the Oregon Dept. of Transportation to close both highways at the junction in both directions. Motorists are asked to avoid the area for their safety and that of firefighters working to put out the fire.
The fire was reported at 1:42 p.m. Firefighters from the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Western Lane District responded as well as firefighting units from the Coos Forest Protective Association, the USDA Forest Service and several rural fire districts. The fire is estimated at five to six acres in size. The cause is under investigation.
The Lane County Sheriff’s Office issued a Level 3 Go Now evacuation order at 2:10 p.m. for residents on Rice Road, Hillcrest Road and First Avenue in Mapleton. Questions about evacuations should be directed to the Sheriff’s Office Dispatch at 541-520-2646, option 1.
ODF has six fire engines, a hand crew of 20, two fallers, a dozer and a Type 2 (midsize) helicopter working on the fire today.
Although temperatures in the area were in the 60s today, dry conditions across much of western Oregon highlight the increasing risk of fires starting from almost any source. That’s one reason almost all of ODF’s districts are already in declared fire seasons, with various restrictions in place to reduce possible fire starts. To find restrictions in your area, go to https://gisapps.odf.oregon.gov/firerestrictions/pfr.html
# # #
