Wildfires Near Weed Affecting US97, Evacuations Issued

This is a developing incident. Medford Alert will continue to monitor and update as new information becomes available. Scroll to the bottom of the article for the latest updates.

U.S. 97 is closed 20 miles south of the Oregon/California border due to the fire.

There are also reports a Roseburg Forest plant fully engulfed in Siskiyou County, as a part of this incident.

The Siskiyou County Sheriffs Office has issued an evacuation order for The area including Weed, Lake Shastina and Edgewood.

Residents are asked to leave immediately. Please use caution as emergency vehicles are assisting with evacuations, structure protection, and
fire suppression efforts.

Mandatory evacuation for zones LST-5215, SIS-5304, SIS-5212, SIS-5307, LST-5215, LST-5218, SIS-5108, SIS-5209, SIS-5212, SIS-5304, SIS-5307, SIS-5405, SIS-5503, WED-5411, WED-5414, WED-5417, WED-55-6, WED 55-09. SIS-5120, and SIS-5224.

AN EVACUATION ORDER IS ISSUED WHEN THERE IS AN IMMEDIATE THREAT TO LIFE. THE DANGER IS IMMINENT.

Evacuation Shelter:
Karuk Wellness Center, 1403 Kahtishraam, Yreka

Large Animals:
Siskiyou Fairgrounds (530) 340-1038
250 Sharps Road, Yreka

Dog Shelter:
Rescue Ranch (530) 842-0829
2216 E Oberlin Rd, Yreka

3:00p UPDATE: The fire is now officially called the “Mill Fire”. Currently it is estimated that is has burned approximately 500 acres.

3:20p UPDATE: The fire has grown to approximately 1,228 acres.

3:39p UPDATE: Emergency personnel are quickly evacuating the Palmer Drive area.

Stunning photos are emerging from the Mill Fire. These were provided to Medford Alert, are courtesy of Traci Miner.

A eye-witness told Medford Alert that the structure collapsed within 20 minutes of being engulfed.

4:00p UPDATE: This is the latest Mill Fire evacuation map.

Photo provided to Medford Alert by by Traci Miner, showing the Mill Fire at 4p

4:09p UPDATE: Fire crews dealing with multiple spot fires, the largest and most pressing is being called the “Mountain Incident” at this time.

4:14p UPDATE: Multiple law enforcement units are assisting in evacuating areas along Casper Rd. Several elderly residents called in stating they needed help getting out.

4:20p UPDATE: Additional air support is being scrambled to assist. VLAT 912 is heading to the Mill Fire from Santa Maria. Expected to work the fire out of the VLAT base at MFR.

Command trying to get at least two tankers to divert from other fires in California. “We’ve got a mess here, this is the priority” – Mill Fire IC

4:29p UPDATE: First drop for VLAT912 over the Mill Fire confirmed. Heading to MFR’s East VLAT Tanker Base to reload and hit it again.

4:45p UPDATE: the previous spot fire has now been named the Mountain Fire and can been seen from this CalTrans camera near Weed (pic 1). The Mill Fire is captured by a CalTrans camera as well (pic 2).

4:52p UPDATE: Mill Fire is getting “hung up” in an area near the golf course. IC stating they are making good progress on the incident at this time. No official word on any containment percentage. Still a very active firefight.

5:00p UPDATE: Evacuation warnings have been issued for SIS-2337 and SIS-5203 due to the quick growth of the Mountain Fire.

5:19p UPDATE: The Mill Fire is still burning, but has become less active in the past 20 or so minutes. The nearby Mountain Fire has garnered a tremendous amount of heat as IC estimates it to now be around 300 acres.

5:29p UPDATE: Command is diverting three tankers from the Mill Fire to assist in the nearby Mountain Fire. A total of six tankers will now work the Mountain Fire.

5:37p UPDATE: The Mill Fire has crossed Rainbow and is now in the 4000 block of structures, SCSO remarked. Ground crews are attempting to talk a couple of residents into leaving, they are resisting. Officers will make one last in person attempt before leaving for their own safety,

6:12p UPDATE: Here is a look at the massive air operations that are taking place on both the Mill Fire (pic 1) and Mountain Fire (pic 2).

6:21p UPDATE: These two cameras, courtesy of AlertWildfire Network and CalFire, show just how close the Mill Fire is to neighborhoods

7:10p UPDATE: The Mill Fire is now at 2,580 acres with 0% containment. The Mountain Fire has no updates at this time, last report was 300 acres and 0% containment.

7:27p UPDATE: The Mountain Fire is now officially at 600 acres, 0% containment.

7:47p UPDATE: ODOT has activated the southbound I5 reader board just north of Exit 30. It alerts southbound I5 traffic that wildfires may impact the Interstate. There are no I5 closures at this time.

8:05p UPDATE: Air support has been halted as nighttime approaches. A number of tankers are already ordered to work the fires tomorrow if conditions allow.

10:00p UPDATE: The Mountain Fire is now mapped at 1,464 acres, with 0% containment.

10:03p UPDATE: Officials have issued a Level 3 Evacuation Order for zone SIS-5203 due to the Mountain Fire.

11:00p UPDATE: Cal Fire reports that the Mill Fire has now burned 3,921 acres with 0% containment.

9/3/22

10:00a UPDATE: The Mill Fire is now at 3,921 acres with 20% containment. The nearby Mountain Fire is at 3,395 acres and 5% containment.

10:14a UPDATE: Some zones have been dropped to an evacuation warning around the Mill Fire. However, the Mountain Fire has had additional evacuation warnings put in place. Zones SIS-2218 and SIS-2334 have been added to the evacuation warning list. SIS-5203 remains under a full evacuation order.

12:52p UPDATE: ODF says they typically don’t send firefighters out of jurisdiction in fire season, but they’ve been fortunate to have a huge amount of support and resources in the Rogue Valley community, and from across the state. Today, ODF is sending two engines down to help staff CalFire stations in Hornbrook and Yreka. They’ll remain there as long as Cal Fire needs them and ODF can spare them. ODF says the Southern Oregon District area can rest assured that there is still a large amount of engines and resources ready to fight fire here on our ground as well, but given the circumstances, ODF says they are happy to help partners to the south.

5:10p UPDATE: New evacuation orders: SIS-5102-B and SIS-2218. New evacuation warnings: SIS-2126, SIS-3704, SIS-3707, SIS-5105, SIS-2328, SIS-2215

7:30p UPDATE: Mountain Fire is 4,812 acres and 5% contained. Mill Fire is 4,254 acres and 25% contained.

9/4/22

3:00p UPDATE: Officials say the Mountain Fire has now exploded to 8,460 acres with 10% containment. Terrible news from the Mill Fire as officials confirm two fatalities.

“We have lost two people to this fire, there’s no easy way to put it” announced the Siskiyou County Sheriff Jeremiah LaRue.

The two deceased individuals are adult females, ages 66 and 73. They were located Friday, Sep 2, by first responders in the City limits of Weed, CA. Additionally, SCSO says there are no reported unaccounted for persons related to the Mill Fire.