Rum Creek Fire stays within lines
Sep. 7—Firefighters kept the Rum Creek Fire northwest of Grants Pass within fire lines from Tuesday to Wednesday morning — despite wind gusts, dry fuels and triple-digit temperatures.
The fire's Wednesday acreage of 20,029 acres was unchanged from the day before, but there was no infrared mapping flight to update the acreage, fire managers said.
Containment on the fire grew from 34% Tuesday to 42% Wednesday. Firefighters have mopped up most edges of the fire to at least 75 feet inside fire lines, fire managers said.
Firefighters have encircled the fire with lines, including backup contingency lines in many areas.
The Oregon State Fire Marshal's Office announced Wednesday it has demobilized from the Rum Creek Fire and is returning structural protection control to the local fire department Rural Metro Fire, which covers rural areas outside Grants Pass. The State Fire Marshal's Office was in charge of fire departments that came from across the state to help protect homes and businesses.
Those outside structural fire departments are returning to their home communities to deal with rising danger and other fires in the state. News of their departure triggered an outpouring of gratitude for their help.
"There are no words to thank you enough. You all have done an outstanding job protecting us. Tremendous gratitude and appreciation for all of you," one woman wrote on the Rum Creek Fire Facebook page.
Rogue Valley fire departments are continuing to aid Rural Metro Fire to protect structures, the State Fire Marshal's Office said.
Work by structural firefighters includes attacking spot fires, clearing away flammable vegetation around homes, wrapping some structures with fire-resistant material and setting up sprinkler systems.
Wildland firefighters are still at work on the fire. An interagency team plus Oregon Department of Forestry remain in command of the Rum Creek Fire. ODF is experienced in aggressively fighting rural and forest fires, including ones that threaten homes.
More than 2,000 people were previously assigned to the fire. Staffing stood at 1,690 as of Wednesday morning.
Overnight, firefighters carried out intentional burning between Rum Creek and Montgomery Creek on the fire's northwest flank. The work limits the chance of the fire spotting over the Rogue River, which hems in the north boundary of the fire, fire managers said.
Firefighters continue to monitor this and other areas, watching for flare-ups and spot fires, fire managers said Wednesday morning.
The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for Southern Oregon and Northern California until 11 p.m. Wednesday. Temperatures could reach 106 degrees in valleys.
The heat can expose hidden hot spots and take a toll on firefighters, who have to watch for heat-related illnesses such as dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke, fire managers said.
The forecast called for a high of 97 degrees Wednesday near Merlin, the community closest to the Rum Creek Fire, with a slight chance of thunderstorms.
"A few isolated storm cells are passing through the area today, bringing scattered lightning and minimal rain," fire managers said in a Wednesday morning update. "The incident meteorologist will monitor for any cells that may impact the fire vicinity. Thunderstorms may bring gusty, erratic winds, but rain is unlikely to make it past the tree canopy."
Temperatures could hit 100 degrees in the Medford area with a slight chance of thunderstorms, according to the National Weather Service.
The National Weather Service also issued a Fire Weather Watch warning for late Thursday through Saturday morning. Any fire that starts could spread quickly and threaten lives.
The National Weather Service said everyone in Southern Oregon and Northern California should be taking steps to prepare for fire, even if they don't live near a currently burning fire.
"If you have not packed your evacuation kit yet, now is the time to do so. This includes items like important documents and essentials you cannot live without. Fill your vehicle's fuel tank. Visit ready.gov/kit for more information," the National Weather Service said Wednesday in its fire watch advisory.
Unseasonably hot temperatures and strong winds set the stage for fires across Oregon in September 2020, including the Almeda and South Obenchain fires that destroyed thousands of homes in Jackson County.
As of Wednesday morning, a wide area around Galice and Rand remained under a "Level 3 — Go Now" evacuation alert due to the Rum Creek Fire and all residents should have left the area.
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office reduced the size of areas under less urgent alerts. Most of the area south of the fire remains under a "Level 2 — Be Set" to leave at a moment's notice evacuation alert as of Wednesday morning.
Most areas on the east and north sides of the fire are under a "Level 1 — Be Ready." Further to the east of the fire, Merlin is no longer under a "Level 1" alert as of Wednesday morning.
For updates on evacuation zones, the latest mapping of the fire's footprint, information about emergency evacuation shelter and more, see facebook.com/josephinecountyEM.
For air quality updates, see oraqi.deq.state.or.us/home/map.
For general information about the Rum Creek Fire, see inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8348/.
To sign up for Citizen Alert evacuation alerts via phone, text or email, visit rvem.org.
Reach Mail Tribune reporter Vickie Aldous at 541-776-4486 or valdous@rosebudmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @VickieAldous.
