July 11, 2025
BONANZA, Ore. – Construction of control lines around the Elk Fire were completed today. Crews on the southern end of the fire began mopping-up adjacent to the fireline, securing the fire perimeter in this area. Spot fires along the eastern flank of the fire have control lines in place with firefighters working to mop-up these areas.
Tonight, firefighters will increase the mop-up depth adjacent to the fireline and continue to mop-up the spotfires. Engines will be patrolling the southern end of the fire, watching for flames or smoke.
Temperatures will increase over the next few days, with elevated burning conditions expected due to high temperatures and low relative humidity. Resources are available to support initial attack on any new fire starts in the area.
Today, the Klamath County Sheriff reduced evacuations around the Elk Fire, as firefighters have continued to make progress on the fire. Residents are urged to stay informed about evacuation levels and be prepared to act quickly. For the latest evacuation information, please visit: https://protect.genasys.com/search
The American Red Cross shelter is open at:
Living Springs Church
31897 Mission Street
Bonanza, OR 97623
Please stay clear of the fire area for your safety and the safety of firefighters working on the ground and follow all local fire restrictions and closures.
Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR): A “TFR” is in place, details are n is available at Federal Aviation Administration – Graphic TFRs. Flying a drone near or around a wildfire compromises the safety of pilots and interferes with firefighting efforts.
July 11, 2025
JACKSON & JOSEPHINE COUNTIES, Ore. (July 11, 2025)—Resources from Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Complex Incident Management Team 3, and district resources working on non-complex lightning fires, continued to make progress across all the fires across Jackson and Josephine counties, with most being fully lined and several moving to mop-up status.
ODF Complex Incident Management Team 3 is in command of a group of lightning fires dubbed the Grizzly Complex that started on Monday. The team is also fighting the Neil Creek Road Fire west of Interstate 5 near Ashland. ODF Southwest Oregon District continues suppression efforts on additional fires within the district.
More than 1,500 personnel are assigned to the Grizzly Complex and Neil Creek Road Fire. These crews and resources continue to provide relief to local district personnel, allowing them to continue work on other fires within the district and respond to potential new fire starts.
“We have had these fires for a little over 36 hours and the progress we have made has been aggressive and steady” said ODF CIMT 3 Deputy Incident Commander Eric Perkins. “The team resources, along with the local resources, are making incredible progress across the incidents.”
Today, the following fires remain the largest incidents under ODF CIMT3 Incident Management:
- The Neil Creek Road Fire – located west of I-5 mile marker 10 and south of Ashland. Today, crews increased the line, wrapping almost completely around the fire. Overnight, the crews will work to complete additional direct line and continue to increase mop-up operations across the whole perimeter. With updated mapping, the fire is now estimated to be closer to 200 acres. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management downgraded some evacuation notices. Zones JAC-542, JAC-543, JAC-546, JAC-558 and JAC-559 under a Level 2 – Be Set. Zone JAC-536 is now downgraded to a Level 1 – Be Ready. More information on current evacuations can be found at: https://protect.genasys.com/. One lane of I-5 is closed between mile markers 8.5 and 10.5 on southbound lanes only. Check tripcheck.com for up-to-date traffic information.
- The Deming Gulch Fire – located northeast of Buncom. The fire is currently estimated at 250 acres. Firefighters have completed hose lays and increased mop up around the fire to a depth between 10-50 feet into the perimeter, creating a stronger line around the fire. There are currently no evacuation notices on this incident.
- The North Fork Deer Creek Fire – located in the hills above the 8000-block of Deer Creek Road east of Selma. Crews continue mop-up operations and building depth to 100 feet into the interior of the fire and keeping it at 42 acres. There are no current evacuation orders for this incident.
- The Jim Me Peak Fire – located in a remote area south of Applegate. Firefighters continued to remain heavily engaged in an aggressive attack while being successful in building a hand line around most of the fire perimeter where the fire crossed lines yesterday. Overnight crews will continue to increase mop-up where they can. The fire is estimated at 70 acres.
- The Palmer Peak Fire – located to the southeast of the Jim Me Peak Fire. Line is completed around the fire and mop up operations have built lines with a 50-foot depth into the interior. The fire is currently estimated to be 90 acres.
- The Holcomb Peak Fire – located southwest of Williams. Today, firefighters continued to bolster the line, increasing mop up to depths of 50-100 feet into the interior of the fire.
- The Sulfur Springs Fire – located southeast of Buncom and Cinnabar Mountain. Crews continued to build depth to the line, adding hose lays to allow for water access across the incident. Today, they also started to build depth to the line into the interior. Mop up will continue to push forward.
- The Benson Gulch Fire, – south of Applegate Road and Button Butte, west of Buncom. This fire is fully lined at 13 acres, plumbed with hose and in mop-up operations.
The following fires are managed by the ODF District:
- The Heppsie Mountain Fire – located south of Highway 140. Firefighters continued with mop-up efforts today, making progress across the fire. No new growth today and it remains at an estimated to be 50 acres total. A Level 1 – BE READY for a possible evacuation remains in place for: JAC-325-B Heppsie Mountain Road south of Highway 140 and the zone immediately to the south, JAC-326. More information on current evacuations issued by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management can be found here: https://protect.genasys.com/.
- The Poole Hill Fire – located south of the Heppsie Mountain Fire. Firefighters were able to increase mop-up efforts 50-feet into the interior of the fire, holding it at 12 acres. This work will continue overnight. Evacuation notifications for the Heppsie Mountain Fire apply to this incident as well.
Most of these fires were caused by lightning strikes following thunderstorms Monday night. Other small fires are still staffed across the district.
Aircraft continues to be a critical asset and was used throughout the day. 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.
Due to the large number of fires, updates on smaller incidents are not being provided at this time; if conditions change and there are any threats to homes, communities or roads, information will be provided as timely and accurately as possible.
Temperatures are expected to reach triple digits this weekend, which will naturally increase fire activity. While resources remain engaged on these lightning-caused 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.
July 11, 2025
BONANZA, Ore. – Firefighters made steady progress overnight on the Elk Fire with minimal activity and no additional growth reported. Cool overnight temperatures created favorable conditions for suppression and containment efforts.
The fire is now estimated at 2,592 acres. This increase is not due to fire spread, but rather the result of more accurate mapping conducted during an infrared flight yesterday.
Fire crews worked through the night building new and strengthening containment lines with dozers and hand tools. Suppression efforts included addressing spot fires that appeared outside of the fire perimeter. All established control lines are currently holding and tied in to previously burned areas, helping to prevent further spread.
Today, structural resources are prioritizing the assessment of property and homes near the fire. Crews will continue working to protect homes, critical infrastructure, and other values at risk. Special attention is being directed toward safeguarding the region’s power infrastructure to ensure the continuity of essential services.
“We had a great night on the fire,” said the Operations Section Chief, Jason Pettigrew. “Today presents a key opportunity to finalize and secure containment lines while conditions remain favorable.”
The forecast calls for slightly warmer temperatures than yesterday, with lower humidity expected. Fire officials urged crews to make the most of this final day of milder weather before hotter, drier conditions return.
Resources remain on standby to support initial attack operations should any new fires start in the area. Fire managers continue working closely with cultural resource advisors to identify and protect significant sites within the fire area. Crews have been briefed and are avoiding culturally sensitive areas.
The Klamath County Sheriff has implemented evacuations around the Elk Fire for public and resident safety. Residents are urged to stay informed about evacuation levels and be prepared to act quickly. For the latest evacuation information, please visit: https://protect.genasys.com/search
The American Red Cross shelter is open at:
Living Springs Church
31897 Mission Street
Bonanza, OR 97623
The public is reminded to stay clear of the fire area for both their safety and the safety of firefighters working on the ground. Please follow all local fire restrictions and closures.
Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR): A “TFR” is in place at an altitude from the surface up to and including 6500 feet, daily (24 hours) until further notice. Complete information is available at Federal Aviation Administration – Graphic TFRs. Flying a drone near or around a wildfire compromises the safety of pilots and interferes with firefighting efforts.
July 10, 2025
BONANZA, Ore. – Wildland and structural firefighters spent the day coordinating efforts to expand initial control lines around the fire. Five task forces from the Oregon State Fire Marshal are also actively assessing and protecting homes near the fire. One of those structural task forces repositioned to the northeastern edge to begin accessing homes in close proximity to the fireline. Meanwhile, fire crews reached the top of Yainax Butte to safeguard critical communication infrastructure vital to the region and emergency responders.
Crews working the southeastern area of the fire reinforced fireline and plumbed additional firehose into the area, increasing water availability for suppression and mop-up activities. On the north flank of the fire helicopters were used to cool hotspots, allowing ground resources to strengthen fireline and extend the containment line to the north.
Repairs to the fiber optic line providing phone and internet service to areas east of the fire were completed today.
Tonight, firefighters will take advantage of cooler temperatures, increased humidity, and moderated winds to construct fireline directly adjacent to the fire’s edge. Firefighters patrolling in the southern portion of the fire will work to extinguish flames or visible smoke near the fireline. Crews will also be working to check for any spotfires outside the perimeter.
The fire is being managed under a Unified Command between the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s (OSFM) Red Incident Management Team and Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Incident Management Team 1.
The Klamath County Sheriff has implemented evacuations around the Elk Fire for public and resident safety. Residents are urged to stay informed about evacuation levels and be prepared to act quickly. For the latest evacuation information, please visit: https://protect.genasys.com/search
The American Red Cross shelter is open at:
Living Springs Church
31897 Mission Street
Bonanza, OR 97623
Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR): A “TFR” is in place at an altitude from the surface up to and including 6500 feet, daily (24 hours) until further notice. Complete information is available at https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr3/?page=detail_5_2600. Flying a drone near or around a wildfire compromises the safety of pilots and interferes with firefighting efforts.
July 10, 2025
JACKSON & JOSEPHINE COUNTIES, Ore. (July 10, 2025) – Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Complex Incident Management Team 3 assumed command of the majority of the lightning-caused fires this morning at 6:00 a.m. More firefighters, crews, and additional resources continue to arrive and will rotate out some existing local district personnel, allowing them to be ready to respond to potential new fire starts.
Capitalizing off cooler night temperatures, firefighters made great progress overnight across all fires in Jackson and Josephine counties and held the majority of fires within their current footprints, minimizing growth. Today, firefighters will continue to provide aggressive, direct suppression on fires and push forward to build lines as hot and windy conditions persist throughout the day and fire potential remains.
Today, the following fires remain the largest incidents across the district:
- The Neil Creek Road Fire, located west of I5 mile marker 10 and south of Ashland. Overnight, firefighters continued to build and hold lines around the fire. Crews built additional dozer and hand lines around the perimeter with much of the effort trying to contain the south edge of the fire along Interstate 5. Crews also began mop-up operations along the north end of the fire, still estimated to be 250 acres. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management have placed Zones JAC-536, JAC-542, JAC-543, JAC-546, JAC-558 and JAC-559 under a Level 2 – Be Set to evacuate notice. More information on current evacuations can be found here: https://protect.genasys.com/. One lane of I5 is closed between mile markers 8.5 and 10.5 on both the southbound and northbound sides. Check tripcheck.com for traffic information.
- The Deming Gulch Fire, located northeast of Buncom, is currently estimated at 250 acres. Overnight, firefighters were able to build additional line along the west flank and will continue to push forward on progress. Steep terrain with limited access is creating challenges for firefighters. There are currently no evacuation notices on this incident.
- The Heppsie Mountain Fire, located south of Highway 140. Firefighters were able to complete the line around the entire Heppsie Mountain Fire, still estimated to be 40 acres in size. Two small spot fires were caught overnight at an acre and half an acre each, and they are both 100% lined this morning. Despite windy conditions, these were the only setbacks overnight. Today, firefighters will continue to bolster lines and mop up. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management have issued a Level 1 – BE READY for a possible evacuation from the following areas: JAC-325-B Heppsie Mountain Road south of Highway 140 and the zone immediately to the south, JAC-326. More information on current evacuations can be found here: https://protect.genasys.com/.
- The Poole Hill Fire, located south of the Heppsie Mountain Fire. Firefighters were able to hold lines overnight, keeping the fire completely lined and holding it at a final size of 11.5 acres. Mop-up operations will continue today. Evacuation notifications for the Heppsie Mountain Fire apply to this incident as well.
- The North Fork Deer Creek Fire, located in the hills above the 8000-block of Deer Creek Road east of Selma, was 100% lined overnight by fire crews, holding it at 42 acres. Firefighters will continue mop-up operations. There are no current evacuation orders for this incident.
- The Jim Me Peak Fire, located in a remote area south of Applegate. The fire remained very active overnight, but firefighters continued to hold it within its footprint at around 70 acres. Resources will continue to be engaged in an aggressive attack as hot, windy conditions persist.
- The Palmer Peak Fire, located to the southeast of the Jim Me Peak Fire. Overnight, firefighters were able to continue building line around the fire, now 90% complete. This work will continue today. The fire is currently estimated to be 90 acres.
- The Holcomb Peak Fire, located southwest of Williams. Overnight, crews were able to gain the upper hand and line 50-percent of the fire’s perimeter. Today, firefighters will work to hold this line and build more. Hot and windy conditions are expected again, and aircraft will be used where needed.
Aircraft continues to be a pivotal resource on these incidents and will be used where needed throughout the day. 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.
The majority of these fires were caused by lightning strikes following thunderstorms Monday night. The fire count remains at 72 total between the two counties, with numerous fires already caught and extinguished at small sizes.
A number of other small fires are staffed across the district. Due to the large amount of fires, updates on smaller incidents are not being provided at this time; if conditions change and there are any threats to homes, communities or roads, information will be provided as timely and accurately as possible.
High fire danger is currently in effect on ODF-protected land in Jackson and Josephine counties; as firefighters work to extinguish these natural fire starts, help prevent new human-caused fires from sparking by following all regulations currently in place: https://swofire.com/public-fire-restrictions/.
For fire local information anytime, visit the district’s Facebook page, @ODFSouthwest or website, www.swofire.com.
