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  • wildfire Wildfire
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Rum Creek Fire

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Unit Information

Medford District 
Oregon 
Oregon 
0 
Medford District 
Oregon 
Oregon 
0 

Incident Contacts

  • Public Information
    Email:
    2022.rumcreek@firenet.gov
    Phone:
    541-625-0849
    Hours:
    10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • BLM Grants Pass
    Phone:
    541-471-6500

Rum Creek Fire daily update for Friday, Sept. 9th

Rum Creek Fire
Publication Type: News 09/09/2022

 Hot, dry, and windy at Rum Creek Fire
MERLIN, Ore. – The National Weather Service has issued a combination of Red Flag Warnings and Heat Advisories through Saturday for much of western Oregon. Wind gusts up to 30 mph from the northeast will bring high temperatures, possibly over 100 degrees. Relative humidity levels will be very low during the day, with little recovery at night. This combination creates critical wildfire conditions.

Evacuations: Evacuation orders and notifications have been revised.  An interactive map showing evacuation levels according to address can be found at //JosephineCounty.gov/FireMap. For the most current evacuation information and resources, go to Josephine County Incident Information (rvem.org).

These adverse weather conditions are impacting the Rum Creek Fire. Pockets of residual heat are fanned by winds, increasing activity. On Thursday, a few remaining pockets of fuels flared up on the northwest part of the fire. Helicopters successfully stopped the spread of flames, keeping the fire within the containment lines. More of the remaining vegetation south of the Rogue River near Montgomery Creek burned, reducing the chance of fire jumping the river.

Throughout the fire, embers fanned by winds began to smoke. Firefighters extinguished residual heat near containment lines and monitored other areas of the fire watching for flare-ups. More hidden hot spots are expected to become active over the next two days under forecasted weather conditions.
 
At this time, most fuels burning on the Rum Creek Fire are larger fuel types such as logs and buried roots. Most fine fuels were consumed during earlier periods of the fire. Fine fuels like grasses and brush burn quickly and can create a rapidly spreading fire. Larger fuels burn more slowly, spreading fire at a decreased rate, but can burn for a long time. Large logs and stump holes are expected to continue smoking until they are consumed or extinguished.

The Rum Creek Fire has been cooled and mopped extensively in areas near Galice, allowing the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office to reduce the area affected by the Level 3: GO NOW evacuation notice. Some areas west of the Rogue River near Galice and Taylor Creek Road are now at a Level 2: GET READY, and are open to residents only. For more detailed information, use the interactive map at //JosephineCounty.gov/FireMap to look up individual addresses. For the most current evacuation information and resources, go to Josephine County Incident Information (rvem.org).
 
The public is reminded to drive carefully on roads near the fire, including Galice Road. Fire personnel are actively working on the fire, creating heavy traffic on some roads. If you don’t need to be in the fire area, please stay out. Please slow down, keep your eyes on the road, and yield to oversized vehicles. Many fatalities on fires are caused by vehicle accidents.
 
Members of Oregon Department of Forestry Team 1 (ODF 1) have completed their tour of duty on Rum Creek Fire, managing operations on the east side. They demobilized this morning and are heading home for rest and recovery. As of 7 a.m. today, Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 6 (NRIMT 6) has assumed command of the entire fire. NRIMT 6 will continue to supervise resources extinguishing residual heat on the fire, plus repair operations.

River status: The Wild section of the Rogue River below Grave Creek will remain open unless fire conditions warrant closure. River status is determined on a day-to-day basis. Please call 541-471-6535 for more information regarding Rogue River permits. No new boating permits will be issued at this time.


Road control: Josephine County Sheriff’s Office has established traffic access points around the fire zone. Road blocks are located at Galice Road near Crow Road; Galice Store; Bear Camp Road at Peavine (top intersection); Lower Grave Creek Road at Angora Creek (Grays Ranch); Quartz Creek Road about 3 miles up (end of County maintenance); Dutch Henry Road near Kelsey Creek (42 44'56.2/123 40'35.4); and Hog Creek at Galice Road. Only residents (must show proof of residency) and permitted users will be allowed through.
Related Information:
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