Crews Gain Ground on Upper Applegate Fire, Now 70% Contained

Applegate, Oregon- Firefighters held their ground overnight against the Upper Applegate Fire in southern Oregon, securing containment lines around 70% of the blaze’s perimeter, officials said Thursday morning.

The wildfire, which ignited Tuesday afternoon in the 2000-block of Upper Applegate Road, remains estimated at 470 acres (updated since last ODF press release) following aerial mapping conducted late Wednesday. Officials say the fire has not grown since that time, though they cautioned acreage totals may shift as more accurate mapping becomes available.

Crews made significant progress by establishing water hose lines along 50% of the fire’s perimeter, increasing firefighters’ ability to douse hot spots and reinforce control lines. The fire is burning on both private land and federal property managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

Today, 204 personnel are assigned to the incident, including eight hand crews, seven engines, six bulldozers, and three water tenders. Aerial resources remain the same: three Type 1 and two Type 2 helicopters, along with an air attack platform. Fire officials said air tankers will be deployed for retardant drops if needed.

The Oregon State Fire Marshal has also dispatched two structural task forces from Lane and Marion counties to assist in protecting homes in the area.

The uncontained northern section of the fire continues to pose a challenge, with hazard trees—referred to as “snags”—posing safety risks for firefighters. Many of the trees have been weakened by flames and could fall, complicating containment efforts.

Weather conditions are expected to challenge firefighting efforts later in the day, with winds forecast to reach 10 to 20 miles per hour and gusts up to 25 mph. Warm, dry weather could lead to increased fire activity in the afternoon, officials warned.

Evacuations remain in place. Jackson County authorities have issued a mix of Level 3 “GO NOW”, Level 2 “BE SET”, and Level 1 “BE READY” evacuation notices. Up-to-date evacuation maps and alerts can be found at www.rvem.org/fires.

An evacuation shelter is open at Jacksonville Elementary School, located at 655 Hueners Lane in Jacksonville. Small pets are welcome at the shelter, while large livestock can be taken to the Expo in Central Point.

Upper Applegate Road remains closed to the public, although residents are being allowed through. Officials urge motorists to use caution and avoid the area if possible, as fire crews and equipment are actively working along the roadway.

The Upper Applegate Fire was first reported around 12:30 p.m. on June 18 as a fast-moving grassfire, quickly spreading uphill through dry brush under hot and windy conditions. Firefighters from Applegate Fire District, Oregon Department of Forestry’s Southwest Oregon District, local structural fire departments, BLM, and the U.S. Forest Service – Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest mounted a swift and aggressive initial attack.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Authorities say incident updates will be provided each morning and evening, with additional alerts issued if significant developments occur.