CENTRAL POINT, Ore. — The Oregon Department of Forestry has activated a Complex Incident Management Team to oversee the rapidly growing East Evans Fire in Jackson County, marking the first deployment of a state incident management team for a wildfire in Oregon this year.
The move will bring in additional personnel and firefighting resources to the incident, allowing firefighters from the ODF Southwest Oregon District to resume initial attack responsibilities across the district’s 1.8 million acres of protected forestland in Jackson and Josephine counties.
The East Evans Fire is burning about 26 miles northeast of Medford. As of Friday evening, the wildfire had grown to an estimated 1,550 acres after being reported at approximately 2:41 p.m. Friday on private land protected by ODF. The fire has since spread onto adjoining Bureau of Land Management lands.
Hot, dry weather and numerous spot fires fueled the fire’s rapid expansion throughout the afternoon. Firefighters successfully contained two spot fires during the initial attack, but a third spot fire became established and quickly intensified, contributing significantly to the wildfire’s growth. The escalating fire behavior prompted ODF to request assistance from a state Complex Incident Management Team.
Fire officials said hot, dry conditions continue to present significant challenges for suppression efforts as crews work to slow the fire’s advance.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office has issued Level 1 (Be Ready), Level 2 (Be Set), and Level 3 (Go Now) evacuation notices for residents near the fire. Officials are urging the public to stay away from the area because of multiple road closures and heavy firefighting traffic. Residents should continue to monitor evacuation notices issued by the sheriff’s office.
The cause of the East Evans Fire remains under investigation.
For the latest fire updates, the public can follow the ODF Southwest Oregon District Facebook page.
About the Author
Discover more from Right Now Oregon
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
