Wildfire, crash cause delays on I-5
Jul. 19—The combination of a grass fire and a rollover crash caused early afternoon delays Tuesday for southbound I-5 motorists between Gold Hill and Central Point.
A wildfire reported shortly before noon near mile marker 37, north of Central Point, was largely wrangled with a wet line and kept to three-quarters of an acre by 12:30 p.m., according to the Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District.
Crews with ODF and Jackson County Fire Districts 1 and 3 found the wildfire burning on a slope along the freeway, and ODF dispatched additional engines, a water tender and a type 2 helicopter.
By 12:25 p.m., the fire was no longer active, and crews were working on a hand line.
Fire officials say they're still investigating what caused the wildfire.
The fire closed one lane of southbound I-5. Traffic was also impacted on the southbound side due to a rollover crash that occurred about two miles north of the firefight.
Fire officials say hot temperatures in this week's forecast will continue to dry fuels on the ground. They ask people to follow all current regulations in ODF protected lands. For more information, see swofire.com or Facebook.com/ODFWSouthwest.
