Wildfire, crash cause midday delays on southbound I-5
Jul. 19—The combination of a grass fire and a rollover crash caused early afternoon delays for southbound I-5 motorists between Gold Hill and Central Point.
A wildfire first reported shortly before noon Tuesday near mile marker 37, north of Central Point, was largely wrangled with a wet line around it at three-quarters of an acre by 12:30 p.m., according to releases issued Tuesday afternoon by the Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District and TripCheck.com.
Crews with ODF and Jackson County Fire Districts 1 and 3 found the wildfire burning on a slope along the freeway, and ODF immediately dispatched additional engines, a water tender and a type 2 helicopter to the grass fire.
By 12:25 p.m., the fire was no longer active, and crews were working on a hand line.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, according to TripCheck and dispatch information via PulsePoint. 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.
