Firefighters Hold Upper Applegate Fire at 350 Acres After Aggressive Attack

Applegate, Oregon- Firefighters battling the Upper Applegate Fire in near Jacksonville, have managed to hold the blaze at an estimated 350 acres as of Wednesday evening, following an aggressive initial attack that stretched into the night.

The fire, which broke out around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday along the 2000-block of Upper Applegate Road, began as a fast-moving grassfire on private and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land. First responders from the Applegate Fire District and the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Southwest Oregon District arrived to find five to 10 acres burning rapidly in dry, windy conditions.

Fueled by uphill winds and parched vegetation, the fire quickly grew to 120 acres by 2:30 p.m. and was nearing 200 acres by 3:30 p.m. Authorities responded with a full-scale aerial and ground assault, deploying multiple helicopters, four Large Air Tankers (LATs), a Very Large Air Tanker (VLAT), and an air attack plane to contain the spread.

Two Type 2 and three Type 1 helicopters conducted steady water bucket drops throughout the afternoon, while fixed-wing aircraft dropped retardant along the fire’s left flank to prevent further northern advancement. On the right flank, ground crews reported minimal fire activity and worked to strengthen containment lines.

“Firefighters are engaging aggressively in key areas, especially on the east side where wind continues to drive fire progression,” officials said in the evening update.

In anticipation of overnight flare-ups, incident managers are deploying an additional eight 20-person hand crews, eight engines, six bulldozers and six water tenders. Aircraft will continue operations until daylight fades, and more personnel are expected to join the effort early Thursday morning.

Evacuation orders have been issued by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management. Some residents have been told to “GO NOW” under Level 3 evacuation notices, while others remain on alert with Level 2 “BE SET” and Level 1 “BE READY” warnings. A full list of current evacuation zones is available at www.rvem.org.

An emergency shelter has opened at Jacksonville Elementary School at 655 Hueners Lane in Jacksonville. The site is accepting small pets. Large animals and livestock can be taken to the Jackson County Expo in Central Point.

Upper Applegate Road remains closed to the public, though residents are being allowed to pass. Officials urge travelers to avoid the area if possible due to ongoing fire activity and heavy equipment operations.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. ODF says further updates will be released in the morning, or as any significant developments occurs.