SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon State Fire Marshal has deployed additional firefighting resources to Jackson County as the rapidly expanding East Evans Creek Road Fire continues to threaten homes and communities.
The wildfire, which ignited Friday, quickly grew to more than 1,500 acres, prompting widespread evacuation notices and a large-scale response from state and local agencies.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office has issued Level 1 (“Be Ready”), Level 2 (“Be Set”), and Level 3 (“Go Now”) evacuation notices for areas impacted by the fire. Residents are urged to monitor the sheriff’s office for the latest evacuation information and updates.
To bolster structural fire protection efforts, the Oregon State Fire Marshal is mobilizing four structural task forces from Lincoln, Linn, Marion, and the South Coast—representing Coos, Curry, Lane, and Douglas counties. The teams will join a task force from Klamath County and a strike team from Douglas County that were dispatched Friday evening through the state’s Immediate Response program to assist local firefighters.
In addition, the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Blue Incident Management Team has been activated and will operate under unified command with the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Team 1 to coordinate suppression efforts.
“This fire is a reminder how quickly things can change with the dry conditions we have across the state,” Oregon State Fire Marshal Chief Deputy Travis Medema said in a statement. “We have a long way to go this fire season, and I ask every Oregonian to do their part to prevent wildfires.”
Late Friday, Governor Tina Kotek invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act, authorizing the Oregon State Fire Marshal to mobilize additional firefighting resources through the Oregon Fire Mutual Aid System. It marks the first time the Emergency Conflagration Act has been invoked in Oregon during the 2026 wildfire season.
The Oregon State Fire Marshal, which became an independent state agency in July 2023, works with local fire agencies and emergency partners statewide to protect lives, property, and natural resources through fire prevention, preparedness, and emergency response efforts.
Fire officials continue to monitor conditions as crews work to slow the fire’s spread and protect threatened communities. Residents in and around the affected areas are encouraged to remain alert and follow all evacuation orders and official updates.
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