Holy Smoke! Smokey Turns 65!

Tomorrow is Smokey Bear's 65th birthday, and a celebration will take place at the Shady Cove Fire Dept. The party starts at noon and lasts until 3:00 p.m. Come give Smokey a hug, have a birthday cupcake, and take home an official Smokey Bear memento or two.

And remember ... only you can prevent forest fires.

Nine Small Fires Found From Wednesday’s Thunderstorms

Seven small lighting-caused fires were found late yesterday and early today in ODF’s Grants Pass Unit, and two were found in the Medford Unit. The largest fire was a 1.5-acre fire in the Elk Creek area, north of Shady Cove. Most of the fires were 1/10-acre or smaller and were quickly contained by ODF engine crews.

A reconnaissance flight is aloft today, and all mountain-top fire lookouts are staffed.

Air Attack Stops 8-Acre Blaze On Mt. Isabelle

A fast-moving fire on Mt. Isabelle broke out shortly after noon today, but three loads of retardant from airtankers and numerous buckets of water from two helicopters kept the fire to 8 acres. The fire burned in conifer forest and brush.

Crews are now completing fireline around the fire, called the Forest Creek Fire, and additional fire suppression crews will mop up hot spots through the night.

ODF Medford Unit firefighters found three additional lightning-sparked fires earlier today. One was on Cleveland Ridge, another on Sprignet Butte, and the third near Mystery Creek. All were contained at 1/10 of an acre or smaller.

The cause of the Forest Creek Fire is under investigation.

Smokes Still Popping Up From Weekend Storms

ODF Southwest Oregon District firefighters found 21 fires from lightning storms that occurred over the weekend. Most of the fires found as of midnight Sunday are smaller than ¼-acre in size and all have firelines around them; nearly all of the fires are mopped up.

The district protects 1.8 million acres of state, private, county and BLM lands in Jackson and Josephine counties.

Reconnaissance flights occur daily to search the forestlands for smoke.

Saturday’s Lightning Storm Sparks 17 Small Fires

Lightning storms blanketed most of Jackson County and the eastern edge of Josephine County late Saturday, starting at least 17 small fires on ODF Southwest Oregon District-protected lands. The largest fires are the 2.5-acre Kane Creek Fire and the 1-acre Panther Gulch Fire. The rest of the fires have been ½ -acre or smaller. All of the fires are either staffed by firefighters, contained or are being mopped up.

The Burnt Peak Fire, which started last Wednesday west of Lost Creek Lake, was contained Friday at 189 acres. Firefighters continue to patrol the burned area.

More lightning is forecast for today. A reconnaissance flight is in the air today is patrolling ODF-protected lands.