Lightning or People: Which Causes More Fires in Southwest Oregon?

This week's SWOFIRE poll asked "How are most wildfires caused in southwest Oregon?" The choices were lighting or people. Most respondents chose lightning.

Over the past ten years, lightning caused an average of 53 fires per year on Oregon Department of Forestry-protected lands in Jackson and Josephine counties. During that same time period, people caused an average of 169 fires per year.

ODF's Southwest Oregon District protects 1.8 million acres of state, private, county and Bureau of Land Management lands in Jackson and Josephine counties.

To keep tabs on fires that have occurred on ODF-protected lands, see the Wildland Fire Statistics web page.

Fire Danger Level Goes Up on Thursday

The public regulated use fire danger level will go up from "moderate" to "high" on Thursday, July 15. Starting that day, mowing, chain saw use and other spark-making activities (such as the cutting and grinding of metal) will be shut down at 1:00 p.m. Smoking will be restricted to enclosed vehicles, and campfires will be allowed only in designated campgrounds. Vehicles will only be allowed only on improved roads. And, of course, debris burning and fireworks will continue to be prohibited.

The Industrial Fire Precaution Level will remain at 1.

There will also be changes in the Wild and Scenic section of the Rogue River between Grave Creek and Marial. Basically, all open fires will be prohibited.

For the gritty details on the new restrictions, see www.swofire.oregon.gov.

Both Berry Rock and Sprignett Fires 100% Lined

Last night there were a combined 148 firefighters manning the Sprignett and Berry Rock Fires. Currently on the 15 acre Sprignett Fire, the area has been 100% lined and 100% mopped up. The Berry Rock Fire has been 100% hand lined and 10% mopped up around the 60 acre perimeter.

Today there are 207 firefighters working on both fires. There will be one inmate crew, two engines, 12 hand crews and three helicopters on scene.

Thousands of Gallons of Water Dumped on Berry Rock Fire

Five helicopters carrying big buckets of water dumped thousands of gallons onto the Berry Rock Fire today. More than 120 firefighters stirred the wet stuff into the burning limbs and logs, resulting in a significant reduction of open flame within the burned area. Crews also continued digging a fresh fireline, and had 70 percent of the fire ringed by mid-afternoon.

Two airtankers dropped several loads of retardant along the fire's flanks to slow its spread.

Portable water tanks were flown to the top of the fire area, and the night crews will roll out a network of hoses.

Elsewhere on ODF's Medford Unit today, crews working on the 15-acre Sprignett Fire reported the fire has a good line all the way around it and that they completed mop-up. Another fire-fighting crew was flown by helicopter to Wilcox Peak to check several small lightning-caused fires. No smokes were reported.

Berry Rock Fire Grows to 60 Acres

More than 100 firefighters are working today to contain the Berry Rock Fire, 3 miles northeast of Trail, which has grown to approximately 60 acres. Airtanker 62 has been flying loads of retardant to the fire this morning from the Medford Airtanker Base. A second airtanker has been ordered.

Vehicle traffic is being managed at 1253 Elk Creek Rd. This is near the staging area for fire-fighting equipment and crews.

No structures are immediately threatened.

Four helicopters are dropping buckets of water onto the fire to cool down hot spots, and a bulldozer is helping with fireline construction. Three additional bulldozers have been ordered.
Engines and water tenders are not being used because the fire is in an area where there are no roads.

The Berry Rock Fire started Thursday, July 8, from a lightning strike. The area in which the fire is burning is very steep, and there is thick brush, mixed stands of conifers and hardwoods, and many dead trees. Burning material rolling downhill has been a constant problem for firefighters.
The remaining lightning-caused fires in Jackson County are either being mopped up, or are being checked daily for smoking material.

A reconnaissance plane is in the air searching for sleepers from Thursday’s thunderstorm. It often takes several days after a thunderstorm before burning material in the forest generates enough smoke to be seen above the tops of the trees. These fires are called sleepers. Three sleepers were spotted, and contained by firefighters, on Saturday.