Firefighters Deal with Mixed Bag of Weather on Rum Creek Fire

Rum Creek Fire command reports that firefighters worked through the night to protect the area between Rand and Galice, and aerial reconnaissance this morning confirmed no structures or homes have been lost in those communities.

Additional resources are being ordered, including leadership and operations of the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Incident Management Team 1 as the fire shifts to a unified command with the additional ODF-protected lands. An Oregon State Fire Marshal’s team is also being integrated to assist in management of structural fire protection.

Late Friday afternoon, strong valley winds and hot temperatures fanned the fire near Grave Creek, increasing fire activity and throwing sparks out of the established perimeter to both sides of the river, which created spot fires that began making fast uphill runs. The increased intensity of the fire formed a pyrocumulus smoke column, which then collapsed, pushing the fire to the south and east.

Cooler temperatures and higher humidity helped reduce fire intensity overnight, allowing ground resources to conduct a variety of tactical l suppression operations to protect Rand and Galice. Protecting homes remains a top priority for firefighters, and the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office is mobilizing a team to assist in structure protection.

Aerial and ground resources will continue to build and reinforce direct and indirect lines and engage in initial attack on spot fires, which have been observed up to two miles away from the fire footprint.

Here are the active (as of 8/27/22) evacuation notices in place:

Level 3 – GO NOW evacuation from South and West of the Rogue River and North of Bear Camp Road; includes Rand, Galice, and Galice Creek Road.

Level 3 – GO NOW evacuation from North of Belknap Gulch, Little Stratton Creek. South of Angora Road, Lower Grave Creek Road. East of the Rogue River. West of Tom East Creek, Hog Creek Road, Hog Creek.

Level 2 – GET READY evacuation order for Galice to Bear Camp Road.

Josephine County Emergency Management has set up a wildfire shelter at the Josephine County Fairgrounds. Red Cross shelter will be at the Pavilion Building, small companion animals will be at the Floral building, and large livestock panels can be erected as needed.

Medford Alert will continue to monitor the incident and provide updates as available.