There are approximately 0 personnel assigned to the 0 large fires across the state, not including many of the local and agency government employees, landowners, forestland operators, and members of the community who are contributing every day.
Initial attack remains ODF’s top priority to keep wildfires small. Prompt detection, early response and aggressive initial attack have been limiting fire spread; however, the department cautions that fuels are becoming quite dry and preheated with the current weather and warns against complacency.
ODF Highlight: The South Fork Forest Camp (SFFC) Do Good Club really does good! The club recently raised an impressive $500 to donate to the Wildland Firefighter Foundation (WFF). What makes this club unique is that it is led and organized by Adults In Custody (AICs) in collaboration with staff at the South Fork Forest Camp. The minimum-security facility, in the middle of the Tillamook State Forest, is jointly run by the Oregon Department of Forestry and the Oregon Department of Corrections.
The Fundraiser was a special meal consisting of a bacon double cheeseburger, onion rings, chocolate chunk cookies, and a soda. The $20 is a significant amount for the AICs as they earn points for successful participation in education, treatment, self-improvement, and work programs. At the end of each month the points earned translate into a cash award and other non-cash incentives.
The nonprofit WFF was chosen to receive donations because nearly all the AICs at South Fork receive Wildland Firefighting training. Most AIC’s at SFFC are then assigned to 10-man crews led by an ODF staff member that provides critical hand crews to battle wildfires around Oregon. Inspired by the AICs participation and enthusiasm, SFFC staff matched whatever the AICs raised, along with matching funds from an (outside SFFC) ODF staff member that brought the total to $1,500.
Weather: Gradual warming and drying is expected to begin this week, developing over the east side first and then moving over to the west side later in the week. Projections show temperatures well above average by next weekend. The threat of fire weather hazards like widespread thunderstorms and strong dry winds appears low for the next several days.
Prevention: The Oregon Department of Forestry wants to remind Oregonians that with weather fluctuating across the state, fire is still on the landscape and fire season is still in effect. The department warns the public against complacency as the state moves is in peak fire activity months, August and September.
Remaining informed of local fire restrictions is a simple way to prevent you from bringing prohibited fire hazards onto the landscape and from potentially starting the next large wildfire. Remember, the fewer human-caused fires in Oregon we have, the more you’re helping protect Oregon’s natural resources, communities, and firefighters. Find danger levels and restrictions across the state here.
There are approximately 0 personnel assigned to the 0 large fires across the state, not including many of the local and agency government employees, landowners, forestland operators, and members of the community who are contributing every day.
Initial attack remains ODF’s top priority to keep wildfires small. Prompt detection, early response and aggressive initial attack have been limiting fire spread; however, the department cautions that fuels are becoming quite dry and preheated with the current weather and warns against complacency.
ODF Highlight: We do more than fight fires. When a call comes asking for help, we assist. ODF’s Northeast Oregon District proved that when they and the La Grande Fire Department responded to help rescue a kitten stuck in an HVAC duct. The kitten, named Jeffro, was happily reunited with his owner after the team of rescuers located him and brought him to safety!
Weather: Today, expect hot and dry conditions west of the Cascades as temperatures peak. A thermal trough will remain over western Oregon and southwest Washington, providing better than average ventilation potential. Starting Tuesday, the peak hot and dry conditions will shift east of the crest as the thermal trough moves eastward. Gusty general winds will also increase on the east side, coinciding with very low humidity, which will enhance fire weather conditions.
Temperatures will cool on Wednesday, but dry gusty winds will become more widespread, further aggravating the burning environment. Conditions will gradually ease on Thursday. By Friday, low pressure will approach off the coast, bringing rain to the Washington coast by Friday evening. Thunderstorms are expected to develop east of the Cascades on Saturday, though the exact location and intensity of these storms remain uncertain.
Prevention: The Oregon Department of Forestry wants to remind Oregonians that with weather fluctuating across the state, fire is still on the landscape and fire season is still in effect. The department warns the public against complacency as the state moves into peak fire activity months, August and September.
Remaining informed of local fire restrictions is a simple way to prevent you from bringing prohibited fire hazards onto the landscape and from potentially starting the next large wildfire. Remember, the fewer human-caused fires in Oregon we have, the more you’re helping protect Oregon’s natural resources, communities, and firefighters. Find danger levels and restrictions across the state here.
There are approximately 155 personnel assigned to the 2 large fires across the state, not including many of the local and agency government employees, landowners, forestland operators, and members of the community who are contributing every day.
Initial attack remains ODF’s top priority to keep wildfires small.
ODF Highlight: As Oregon heads into its peak wildfire months, August and September, Oregon’s public safety services and natural resource agencies want to remind Oregonians to practice wildfire prevention, prepare their home and a go-bag for evacuation and know where to sign up for alerts. Learn more at ODFfire.com.
Weather: Thunderstorms over eastern Oregon and Washington today will advance eastward out of the region this evening. Isolated wet thunderstorms are also possible over northeastern Washington today. For the rest of the work week, thunderstorm potential appears low for the region. Temperatures will continue below average at least through midweek due to a series of weather disturbances from the Pacific passing through. Light rain even looks possible for western Washington and northwest Oregon by Tuesday night. Westerly winds will continue each day through the Cascade gaps into central Oregon and central Washington.
Prevention: Check the fire regulations of the areas where you live, work and play, and follow all local restrictions on burning, equipment use, campfires and other activities that can start wildfires. Find danger levels and restrictions across the state here.
There are approximately 416 personnel assigned to the 3 large fires across the state, not including many of the local and agency government employees, landowners, forestland operators, and members of the community who are contributing every day.
Initial attack remains ODF’s top priority to keep wildfires small.
ODF Highlight: Ever curious about the difference between a fire watch and a red flag warning? Enjoy this easy analogy as we move into several red flag warnings and fire weather watches this week across Oregon. For up-to-date fire weather alerts, follow your regional National Weather Service Facebook page.
Weather: High pressure centered over the Intermountain Region will expand west during the first half of the week. This will result in a warming trend and increasing thunderstorm activity from the Cascade crest eastward. Locally, heavy showers can be expected with some storms Wednesday and Thursday, especially over central and south central Oregon. Some storms Tuesday and Wednesday could drift over the west slopes of the Cascades. Onshore flow strengthens late in the week, gradually reducing the thunderstorm threat. General winds are expected to be near normal over the next few days, but gusty erratic winds can be expected near thunderstorms. Breezy to windy conditions are likely to develop in the central Gorge, Columbia Basin and through the Cascade gaps late in the week and continue through the weekend.
Prevention: Check the fire regulations of the areas where you live, work and play, and follow all local restrictions on burning, equipment use, campfires and other activities that can start wildfires. Find danger levels and restrictions across the state here.
Team 3 is in command of several lightning fires and the Board Shanty Fire in the Southwest Oregon District. Follow the district’s Facebook page for updates. Team 3 will be transferring command back to the district tomorrow, July 22, at 7 a.m.
Team 1 is in command of the Elk Fire and the Hagelstein Fire (Klamath-Lake District). Follow the incident’s Facebook page for updates.
Team 2 is on rotation.
ODF Priority Fires
FIRE NAME
TOTAL ACRES
ODF ACRES
CONTAINMENT
LOCATION
COMMAND
Cram
95,748
7,395
73%
15 miles N of Madras
OSFM Green Team /
NW Team 10
Elk
2,637
685
88%
7 miles SW of Beatty
ODF IMT 1
Hagelstein
669
17
45%
4 miles SE of
Modoc Point
ODF IMT 1
SWO Lightning Fires
887
887
90%
Jackson and Josephine County
ODF IMT 3
Board Shanty
469
469
14%
1 mile S of
Grants Pass
ODF IMT 3
There are approximately 2,975 personnel assigned to the 7 large fires across the state, not including many of the local and agency government employees, landowners, forestland operators, and members of the community who are contributing every day.
Initial attack remains ODF’s top priority to keep wildfires small.
ODF Highlight: If you see the start of a fire and can provide information, eye-witness statements, video, photos or any other data, you can assist investigators by emailing them to odf.firetips@odf.oregon.gov.
This information helps our investigators in creating a full picture of what happened and identifying a responsible party if there is one.
Weather: An upper-level trough over the region will keep temperatures cooler than usual and lead to showers and wet thundershowers mainly over sections of eastern Washington today as well as creating areas of rain and showers over sections of eastern Oregon. Rain and showers will continue Tuesday and diminish on Wednesday as the upper trough moves eastward. General winds will continue to decrease east of the Cascades today and Tuesday as the cooler temperatures linger over the area. Drying returns later in the work week.
Prevention: Check the fire regulations of the areas where you live, work and play, and follow all local restrictions on burning, equipment use, campfires and other activities that can start wildfires. Find danger levels and restrictions across the state here.
Team 3 is in command of several lightning fires in the Southwest Oregon District. Follow the district’s Facebook page for updates.
Team 1 is in command of the Elk Fire (Klamath-Lake District). Follow the incident’s Facebook page for updates.
Team 2 is on rotation.
ODF Priority Fires
FIRE NAME
TOTAL ACRES
ODF ACRES
CONTAINMENT
LOCATION
COMMAND
SWO Lightning Fires
923
923
38%
Jackson and Josephine County
ODF IMT 3
Elk
2,699
848
22%
7 miles SW of Beatty
ODF IMT 1
Highland
719
151
5%
1 mile S of Prineville
Type 3 Team
Willow
4,403
TBD
30%
20 miles S of Paulina
Type 3 Team
Long Point
349
349
86%
8 miles E of Spray
Type 3 Team
There are approximately 3,124 personnel assigned to the 7 large fires across the state, not including many of the local and agency government employees, landowners, forestland operators, and members of the community who are contributing every day.
Initial attack remains ODF’s top priority to keep wildfires small.
ODF Highlight: We talk a lot about building line and mopping up – but what does that mean exactly? Check out this video from the ODF Southwest Oregon District to learn more about fire terms, the work we’re doing and the why behind it.
Weather: Hot and dry conditions today as low pressure brings very strong north winds to the Okanagan Valley this afternoon and evening. Strong west winds will push through the Cascade gaps into the western Columbia Basin. Expect dry thunderstorms in southeast Oregon and wet storms in far northeast Washington. A notable wind shift will occur across the Basin on Tuesday as high pressure moves in behind the departing low. Some east winds may spill over to the west Cascade foothills, mainly between Mt. Rainier and Mt. Bachelor. A thermal trough will bring instability to southwest Oregon extending up the Oregon Cascade west slopes to the Washington Cascade crest. Winds will ease on Wednesday, but the thermal trough and associated surface instability will remain. West general winds and onshore flow will dominate from Thursday through the weekend, especially through the Cascade gaps. Thunderstorms may return to eastern Oregon and along the Canadian border late next week and next weekend. No significant rain is expected.
Prevention: Check the fire regulations of the areas where you live, work and play, and follow all local restrictions on burning, equipment use, campfires and other activities that can start wildfires. Find danger levels and restrictions across the state here.
RUCH, Ore. (June 19, 2025) – Firefighters working on the Upper Applegate Fire were able to hold the fire overnight, securing a fire line around 70% of its perimeter. The fire has not grown beyond the footprint from late Wednesday afternoon. Additionally, resources were able to connect hose throughout 50% of the fire, bringing water access to the incident and allowing firefighters to hold line and extinguish hot spots easier. The fire, located on private and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land along the 2000-block of Upper Applegate Road, is estimated to be 470 acres following an assessment from aircraft personnel. This number will fluctuate in the future as more accurate mapping allows.
Today, 204 personnel are assigned to the fire, including eight crews, seven engines, six bulldozers and three water tenders. Aircraft on the fire remains the same, including two Type 2 and three Type 1 helicopters, as well as an air attack plane. Air tankers will be ordered for retardant drops as needed. The Oregon State Fire Marshal sent two structural task forces from Lane and Marion counties to help local resources protect homes in the area.
Resources will focus on holding and improving existing lines today. The only area that remains unlined is on the north portion of the fire, where numerous hazard trees are located. Firefighters are working on mitigating those snags to create a safer working environment, as many are weakened by fire and primed to fall. An additional challenge today will be the weather; winds are predicted to reach 10 to 20 miles per hour in the afternoon with gusts of 25 miles per hour. These conditions, mixed with warm weather, may naturally increase fire activity in the afternoon. Firefighters are aware of this potential and will be watching for changes to fire conditions and responding with any needed resources.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management have issued Level 3 – GO NOW, Level 2 – BE SET and Level 1 – BE READY evacuation notices. All current evacuations and evacuation maps can be found on www.rvem.org/fires. An evacuation shelter is currently open at Jacksonville Elementary School at 655 Hueners Lane in Jacksonville. Small pets can be taken there, and large livestock can be taken to the Expo in Central Point.
The fire was first reported at 12:30 p.m. on June 18 as a grassfire. 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 the hot, windy conditions, pushed uphill by dry vegetation. 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.
Upper Applegate Road remains closed to the public at this time, however residents will be let through. Firefighters remain working in the area; please use caution if traveling on this roadway and avoid the area if possible.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. Updates on the incident will be provided in the morning and evening, and throughout the day if a significant update is available. For more information, including current fire regulations, visit our Facebook page, @ODFSouthwest or our website, www.swofire.com.
ODF Highlight: We do more than fight fires. When a call comes asking for help, we assist. ODF’s 
