Board Shanty Fire Fully Lined as Crews Intensify Mop-Up Operations

Grants Pass, Oregon-Firefighters continued mop-up operations Sunday on the Board Shanty Fire south of Grants Pass, working to fully extinguish lingering hot spots along the fire’s perimeter. While the 469-acre fire is now 100% lined, overall containment remains at 9%, officials said.

Crews made significant progress, mopping up 50 to 100 feet into the interior on the northeast flank and 30 to 50 feet on the southern edge, with some areas reaching up to 100 feet. Work continues on reinforcing control lines and increasing water availability to support mop-up efforts.

In preparation for potential flare-ups, bulldozers are nearly finished clearing a contingency line along the ridge south of the fire. Steep terrain remains a challenge as rolling debris poses risks of reignition beyond fire lines. Crews continue to assess hazards and patrol for spot fires.

Aviation resources supported operations by targeting hot spots within the fire area. Authorities issued a reminder that drone use near wildfire zones is illegal and endangers air crews. All unauthorized drone activity will be reported to law enforcement.

Evacuation notices remain in effect due to the fire. The Josephine County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management placed Zones JCU-436, JCU-437 and JCU-448-A under a Level 2 “Be Set” evacuation alert, while Zone JCU-448-B is under a Level 1 “Be Ready” advisory. In Jackson County, Zone JAC-068 is also under a Level 1 notice. For the latest evacuation information, residents are urged to visit https://protect.genasys.com.

The fire, which started Thursday, July 17, prompted a multi-agency response including ODF’s Southwest Oregon District, Grants Pass Fire, Rural Metro Fire, Rogue Valley fire agencies, and CIMT-3, which assumed command on Friday, July 18.

Fire restrictions are in effect under both ODF and Bureau of Land Management jurisdictions.