Firefighters Gain Ground on Board Shanty Fire South of Grants Pass

Grants Pass, Oregon- Fire crews made substantial progress Saturday in containing the Board Shanty Fire burning south of Grants Pass, successfully establishing direct control lines around the fire’s southeast edge despite challenging terrain and hot, windy conditions.

The fire’s size increased slightly to 469 acres following updated mapping Saturday afternoon, attributed to overnight activity on steep slopes and falling debris. However, officials say the newly impacted area is now fully lined, and crews continue placing hose lines to cool the fire’s perimeter.

“Things are looking promising, but there’s still a fight up there,” said Incident Commander Tyler McCarty. “Our focus remains on community and firefighter safety, and getting this fire off the map. We’re proud of the crews and all their hard work.”

Firefighters held the line north of Shanty Creek and continued building contingency firebreaks on nearby ridges. High temperatures and gusting winds remain a concern, with potential for embers to travel and spark new blazes. Crews have not reported any spot fires as of Saturday evening.

Aviation support played a key role again Saturday, using water drops to cool hotspots and slow fire spread, allowing ground crews to strengthen containment lines. Fire officials reminded the public that drone use near wildfires is illegal and endangers aircraft operations. Any unauthorized drone activity will be referred to law enforcement.

Evacuation notices remain in effect for several zones in both Josephine and Jackson counties. In Josephine County, Zones JCU-436, JCU-437, and JCU-448-A are under a Level 2 “Be Set” evacuation notice, while Zone JCU-448-B is under a Level 1 “Be Ready” notice. In neighboring Jackson County, Zone JAC-068 remains at Level 1. Up-to-date evacuation information is available at https://protect.genasys.com.

The Board Shanty Fire began Thursday, July 17. Resources from the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Southwest Oregon District, Rural Metro Fire, Grants Pass Fire, Rogue Valley fire agencies, and ODF’s Complex Incident Management Team 3 (CIMT-3) have been engaged in the suppression effort. ODF’s CIMT-3 officially assumed command of the fire on Friday, July 18.

Officials continue to urge residents and visitors to follow all fire restrictions and safety guidelines amid a stretch of hot, dry weather across the region.