Oregon Dept. of Forestry CIMT 3 takes command of the 300-acre Board Shanty Fire south of Grants Pass

July 18, 2025

GRANTS PASS, Ore. (July 18, 2025)—Following an aggressive overnight attack by the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Southwest Oregon District, ODF Complex Incident Management Team 3 (CIMT 3) took command of the estimated 300-acre Board Shanty Fire, located south of Grants Pass, this morning at 6:00 a.m.

Taking advantage of cooler temperatures overnight, crews established 5,000 feet of handline along Board Shanty Road on the northeast perimeter of the fire and slowed growth at the head. Firefighters are facing very active fire behavior, including frequent spotting over the line, as well as overhead hazards, such as standing dead timber that could fall. Today, crews will continue aggressive, direct firefighting tactics as they look to connect line from the head to the heal of the fire with the assistance of aviation.

Yesterday evening, ODF Southwest Oregon District responded to the rapidly growing Board Shanty Fire around 5:00 p.m., as well as numerous engines from Grants Pass Fire, Rural Metro Fire, a contingent of engines from Rogue Valley fire agencies and resources reassigned from the Grizzly Complex.

The team will be in command of the Board Shanty Fire in addition to the 22 fully lined fires within the Grizzly Complex, which is currently at 79% containment with over half of the fires at 90% or more containment. ODF CIMT 3 was initially ordered Tuesday, July 8 to take command of 22 of the fires within the Grizzly Complex.

Hot temperatures, low humidity and gusty wind conditions persist in the area, naturally increasing fire risk and contributing to potential fire growth; help prevent the next wildfire by following all local regulations, found here: https://swofire.com/public-fire-restrictions/. If your weekend plans take you outside, please be aware of the fire risks and recreate safely: https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/oregon-washington/fire-restrictions

Due to the Board Shanty Fire south of Grants Pass, the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management placed Zones JCU-436 and JCU-437 under a Level 2 – Be Set to evacuate notice and a Level 1 – BE READY for JCU-448. Additionally, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management have placed Zone JAC-068 under a Level 1 – Be Ready evacuation notice. For the latest updates on evacuations, visit: https://protect.genasys.com.

Aircraft will be used heavily today to help suppress the fire. Drone use near fires is both illegal and extremely dangerous to pilots working on incidents. If you fly, we can’t. All illegal drone use will be reported to law enforcement.

For more fire information, visit the district’s Facebook page, @ODFSouthwest or website, www.swofire.com.

Focus on mop-up for Elk Fire; Crews shifting to Hagelstein Fire to secure perimeter

July 17, 2025

Bonanza, Ore. Fire crews on the Elk Fire have continued to make significant progress improving containment lines and holding the fire within the fireline.  They have focused on increasing the mop-up depth adjacent to the fire perimeter to minimize any risk of the fire moving across control lines.  Fire operations are confident in the work done on the Elk Fire and are beginning to shift resources to the Hagelstein Fire

Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Team 1 Operations Section Chief John Flannigan praised firefighters for their hard work on the Elk Fire, “It’s been several days since we have had flare ups and spotfires on the incident and that is because you all pushed hard to keep the fire inside the fireline.”

Yesterday helicopters were used on the Hagelstein Fire to keep the fire in check, supporting efforts on the ground to build handline along the eastern flank and to cool slash piles burning near the fireline.  Retardant was used along the eastern flank as well, limiting potential spotfires from tree torching and lofting embers. Overnight, firefighters were able to complete the control line around the perimeter of the fire, today the focus will be on improving the line.

Warm temperatures, poor relative humidity and windy conditions are expected for the next several days. Areas of smoke can be expected in the Klamath Basin from local and regional wildfires, air quality may be unhealthy for sensitive groups at times. Visit https://www.oregonsmoke.org/ for aire quality information and ways to reduce impacts from wildfire smoke.

On Wednesday the Klamath County Sheriff changed evacuations around the Elk Fire. For the latest evacuation information, please visit: https://protect.genasys.com/search

A temporary flight restriction remains in place Federal Aviation Administration – Graphic TFRs over both incidents.

Grizzly Complex in latter stages of mop-up, repair work begins across most fires

July 17, 2025

JACKSON & JOSEPHINE COUNTIES, Ore. (July 16, 2025)—Fire lines across the Grizzly Complex are holding strong as firefighters work to finalize containment and extinguish remaining hot spots. The overall containment across the complex reached 58%, with all fires individually at least 50% contained. Over half of the fires reached 90% or more containment and are being actively patrolled for potential flare-ups, although none have been found to date.

Tonight, overnight crews will continue using handheld infrared (IR) cameras to locate hot spots and ensure the perimeter areas are free of fire and heat. Tomorrow, continued progress is expected, with day crews aiming to complete 300 feet of mop-up into the fire perimeters, extinguishing all fire or heat throughout these areas. This progress will allow repair work to begin and enable some resources to be released from the fire line. Initial attack resources from ODF CIMT 3 remain ready to respond to any new flare-ups or fire starts in the area alongside the ODF Southwest Oregon District. Some smoke may still be visible from the center of fire perimeters.

On Monday, July 7, a thunderstorm moved into southern Oregon, bringing more than 1,300 lightning strikes to Jackson and Josephine counties. Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Southwest Oregon District dispatch centers were immediately flooded with calls of reported fires; by midnight, more than 50 reports of fires had been taken and recorded, and firefighters were engaged in an aggressive initial attack on numerous incidents. Resources made quick work of a number of fires, including the Pompadour Fire in the hills east of Ashland. Firefighters were able to stop its growth and fully build a line around its perimeter at 38 acres, protecting numerous homes in the area.

Due to the amount of reports, a large number of fires were called in multiple times from residents viewing the same fire in different locations; with these complexities added onto the fast paced and massive workload on ODF Southwest’s dispatchers and firefighters, 72 fires were initially reported in Jackson and Josephine counties on ODF-protected land. District staff worked around the clock on these incidents, dispatching resources to new fires, flying numerous reconnaissance flights daily and monitoring strike areas across the district to determine fire locations and status, allocating resources to the incidents where they were most needed and strategizing where the next need would be.

ODF Complex Incident Management Team 3 (CIMT 3) was ordered Tuesday afternoon and took command of 22 of the fires the following morning, with the Oregon Southwest District continuing an aggressive attack on the remaining fires in Jackson and Josephine counties, while continuing to respond to new reports of human-caused fires; since Monday’s thunderstorm, the ODF Southwest Oregon District has responded to and extinguished an additional 13 human-caused fires on top of the lighting starts, the largest being caught immediately at 12 acres.

With mapping, reconnaissance flights, detection center scans, and firefighters ground truthing all reports, the district has responded to 52 fires since last Monday. Between the work from ODF CIMT 3 and the ODF Southwest Oregon District, all fires are now 100% lined and mostly, if not entirely, mopped up. All fires were caught at 250 acres or less, with the majority in the range of 1/10 of an acre to 10 acres in size.

All of these fires were stopped due to the collective work of firefighters from across local, state and federal agencies. These partnerships between organizations in southern Oregon played a large role in the success of these incidents. ODF CIMT 3, ODF Southwest Oregon District and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Medford District would like to extend a thank-you to the U.S. Forest Service Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, CALFIRE, Ashland Fire & Rescue, Jackson County Fire District #5, Greensprings Rural Fire District, Colestin Rural Fire Protection District, Applegate Valley Fire District, Williams Fire Rescue, Grants Pass Fire Rescue, Jackson County Fire District 1, Rural Metro Fire, Illinois Valley Fire District, Lake Creek Fire District, Jackson County Fire District 3, Medford Fire Department, Jacksonville Fire Department, Jackson County Fire District 4, Prospect Rural Fire Protection District and Butte Falls Volunteer Fire and Rescue. We would also like to recognize Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson County Emergency Management, Josephine County Sheriff’s Office, Josephine County Emergency Management, Oregon Department of Transportation, Pacific Power and Light, Jackson County Roads and numerous other entities that have responded alongside us and contributed to the overall success of these fires. Additionally, thank you to the communities that we serve; your support during these incidents has been seen and greatly appreciated by all firefighters.

Slight chances of thunderstorms remain in the forecast for this evening and tomorrow, along with hot temperatures, low humidity and wind. These conditions naturally increase fire risk and contribute to fire growth; help prevent the next wildfire by following all local regulations, found here: https://swofire.com/public-fire-restrictions/. As the weekend approaches, please be aware of the fire risks and recreate safely: https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/oregon-washington/fire-restrictions

Level 1 – Be Ready evacuation notices remain in place for zones JAC-542, JAC-558, and Zone JAC-536. For the latest updates on evacuations, visit: https://protect.genasys.com. All lanes on Interstate 5 are now open, but firefighters are still working in the area. Please be aware and use caution when traveling near any fire zones.

Aircraft remain on standby, and drone use near fires is both illegal and extremely dangerous to pilots working on incidents. If you fly, we can’t. All illegal drone use will be reported to law enforcement.

This will be the final update on these incidents unless conditions significantly change. For more fire information, visit the district’s Facebook page, @ODFSouthwest or website, www.swofire.com.

Current status of the fires under ODF CIMT3 Incident Management:

All fires listed below are confirmed lightning-caused, are 100% lined and in various stages of mop up or repair. Crews are focusing on extinguishing hot spots along fire perimeters and may reassign resources to other fires in the region.

Crews continue to be diligent on both the Elk and Hagelstein fires

July 16, 2025

Fire crews had successful operations on the Elk Fire Tuesday, making good progress further securing the line on the fire, with reports of no spot fires yesterday or overnight. Some areas of the Elk Fire have been mopped up 100ft within the fire line. In the coming days, crews will continue to mop up further into the interior.  

Crews continue to make strong progress on the Hagelstein Fire. Helicopters were used heavily, cooling the fire to allow ground crews better access for line construction and holding the line. The west flank of the fire has been lined with heavy equipment with crews putting in hand line on the east flank. In some places the fire moved across the control line and spotted outside the line. Firefighters were able to quickly stop these fires.

Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Team 1’s objective for both incidents is to minimize acres burned, in a timely manner, while prioritizing firefighter and public safety. The urgency placed on the Elk Fire has not and will not change due to the ODF Team 1 assuming command of the Hagelstein Fire. ODF IMT 1 is confident in managing both incidents successfully.

Orders were placed yesterday for 200 additional personnel to support fire suppression efforts on the Hagelstein Fire. They are expected in the next couple of days.

Today’s weather is expected to be similar to yesterday with elevated temperatures and dry conditions. Areas of smoke can be expected in the Klamath Basin from local and regional wildfires.

The Klamath County Sheriff has implemented evacuations around the Elk Fire. For the latest evacuation information, please visit: https://protect.genasys.com/search

A temporary flight restriction remains in place Federal Aviation Administration – Graphic TFRs over both incidents.

Lines hold despite excessive heat conditions in Southwest Oregon; ODF CIMT 3 shares CAL FIRE resources to assist Klamath area fires

July 16, 2025

JACKSON & JOSEPHINE COUNTIES, Ore. (July 15, 2025)—Despite high temperatures and gusty conditions, crews held Grizzly Complex fires within their current footprints and increased mop-up operations and total containment within the complex.

Late last night, Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Complex Incident Management Team 3 (CIMT 3) quickly redeployed one CAL FIRE strike team of firefighters to assist at the rapidly growing Hagelstein Fire, 14 miles north of Klamath Falls near Highway 97.

ODF CIMT 3 received a request from ODF CIMT 1 for additional resources. Both states were able to approve the redeployment mere hours after the fire started, with firefighters arriving at the fire by midnight.

“We were in a position to share resources to an emerging need in the region, without reducing our capabilities or readiness,” said Incident Commander Tyler McCarty. “We were just in that position less than a week ago, and we understand how important it is to get those resources as early as possible. We’re very appreciative to have this support and strong partnership with CAL FIRE and other cooperators. It takes a team.”

ODF CIMT 3 is in command of a group of lightning fires known as the Grizzly Complex that started on Monday, July 7. The ODF Southwest Oregon District continues suppression efforts on additional fires within the district. Resources remain available to respond to new fire starts within the complex area.

Level 1 – Be Ready evacuation notices remain in place for zones JAC-542, JAC-558, and Zone JAC-536. More information on current evacuations can be found at: https://protect.genasys.com. One lane of Interstate 5 is closed to protect firefighters between mile markers 8.5 and 10.5 on southbound lanes only. Check tripcheck.com for up-to-date traffic information.

Aircraft continues to be used throughout the Complex. As a reminder, drone use around fires is illegal, and incredibly dangerous to pilots working on incidents; if you fly, we can’t. All illegal drone use will be reported to law enforcement.

Temperatures are expected to remain at or near triple digits throughout the week, which will naturally increase fire activity and risk. While resources remain engaged on these incidents, communities can help to prevent new fires from starting by following all current fire regulations, found here: https://swofire.com/public-fire-restrictions/.

For fire local information anytime, visit the district’s Facebook page, @ODFSouthwest or website, www.swofire.com.

Current status of the fires under ODF CIMT3 Incident Management:

All Fires are 100% lined and in various stages of mop up. Crews are focusing on removing snags, strengthening lines and extinguishing hot spots along fire perimeters. Acreage on individual fires was updated due to an infrared flight last night giving more accurate area information.

The following fires are managed by the ODF District: