At approximately 10:50p on 7/11/2022, Medford Fire (MFD) and Jackson County Fire District 3 (JCFD3) units were dispatched to a possible grass fire in a field just west of an operating wood mill near Lynn Street.
Medford Police (MPD) also sent units to the area to assist. Once on scene, Medford Fire reported a slowly moving, approximately 1 acre, grass fire.
At one point, Medford Police were preparing to evacuate a nearby mill building. However, Medford Fire officials stated they did not feel there was a need.
MFD scanner traffic indicates the fire was contained in about 22 minutes, as personnel began mop-up of the site. The on-scene Medford Fire Battalion Chief requested a fire investigator to the scene, as they began investigating the cause as a possible arson case.
Medford Police had located an individual nearby, who told an officer they believed they knew the person who started the fire. Medford Police were familiar with the area, as scanner traffic described known homeless camps on a nearby small ridge.
Access to the fire was difficult, as there were no roads in the undeveloped parcel of land. Larger MFD trucks accessed the incident via nearby railroad tracks, while the smaller brush units found an open gate off Lynn Street that they used.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. There are no reported injuries or significant damage. Medford Alert will continue to monitor this incident for any additional information as it becomes available.
