Level 1 evacuation notices still in effect for residences in the Lake Creek area, about 19 miles north of Ashland
Rogue Valley Times staff report
Fire crews have created containment lines around roughly 60% of the Salt Creek Fire, which sparked late Sunday afternoon off Highway 140 and is still estimated at about 1,500 acres, according to a Monday night update from the Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District.
“An overnight infrared flight has been ordered and will likely be able to give a more accurate size of the fire in the morning,” the post said.
As of Monday night, 290 personnel are assigned to the incident, including eight 20-person crews, 14 engines, nine bulldozers, seven water tender and five task force leaders, the newest post said.
As of 6 p.m. Monday, ODF Incident Management Team 1 has taken command of the Salt Creek Fire, according to fire officials.
First reported at 4 p.m. Sunday, the fire grew from a few acres to hundreds of acres in a couple of hours aided by “hot, dry and windy conditions,” ODF said.
Overnight, firefighters used dozers and hand tools to line the southwest boundary and full northern boundary of the fire, which is burning through an area of steep slopes and dry vegetation on private and U.S. Bureau of Land Management land, ODF said.
Level 1 (“be ready”) evacuations have been ordered some areas north of Lakecreek and east of Brownsboro, about 9 miles east of Eagle Point and 19 miles north of Ashland.
Rogue Valley Emergency Management reported the “be ready” evacuation notice applied in four areas: JAC-316, 317, 319 and 321. Evacuation zones can be found at Genasys Protect.
The zones are north of Highway 140 approximately 12 miles east of Eagle Point in the Lake Creek area, east of Salt Creek Road, North of Highway 140, south and west of Fish Lake Road, including the Willow Lake area, the earlier post said.
Salt Creek Road and Wasson Canyon Road are closed at Highway 140, ODF said, and Double Day Road is closed off at Butte Falls Highway. Highway 140 and Butte Falls Highway remain open, but officials urge residents to stay clear of crews working in the fire zone.
The fire danger level in the Southwest Oregon District moved to “extreme” at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.
This is a developing story and will be updated as warranted.
This story first appeared in the Rogue Valley Times. It has been updated by Ashland.news.
Updated: 7:07, 7:23 and 8:27 p.m. Sunday; 12:50 p.m. Monday; 12:15 a.m. Tuesday
