Southern Oregon fires grow forcing evacuations, emergency declaration

Show Caption Hide Caption Oregon Wildfire Season 2018 With hot weather in Oregon, wildfires are springring up around the state. Here's a roundup of fires currently burning in the state.

UPDATE at 9:13 a.m. on Sunday, July 22

A red flag warning has been issued for part of Southern Oregon due to the possibility of lightning storms on Sunday.

The weather could make some fires worse, but could actually improve conditions on others, fire managers said.

Here's the latest story on the fires in Southern Oregon.

LATEST: As Southern Oregon wildfires grow, new lightning storms expected on Sunday

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ORIGINAL STORY FROM SATURDAY

Major fires in Southern Oregon grew rapidly since Friday, threatening homes and forcing evacuations as weather conditions continue fan the flames.

The Taylor Creek Fire tripled in size to at least 2,000 acres, while the Grave #3 Fire made a "major run" to about 2,100. Both expanded mainly southward.

Level 3 evacuations — meaning "go now" — are in place around both blazes impacting residents on West Pickett Creek Road, located about 12 miles northwest of Grants Pass, and north of the intersection of Grave Creek Road and Ditch Creek Road. Level 2 evacuations have also been issued.

While flames from the Taylor Creek Fire never got near homes, evacuations were set because "it was moving so radically in the afternoon," said Don Ferguson, public information officer.

A Red Cross shelter has opened at Grants Pass High School for evacuees of the Taylor Creek Fire.

MORE: UPDATE: Wildfire growth in Southern Oregon spurs evacuations in Grants Pass, Wimer, Applegate Valley

In all, 393 structures are threatened by the Garner Complex as of Saturday morning. Twelve fires make up the complex, though most are under control. The 500-acre Pleasant Fire has led to evacuations north of Wimer, while the Spencer Fire is holding below 200 acres.

Tips for evacuating during a wildfire Oregon has 3 evacuations levels. Here are some tips on what the levels are and what to take with you if you have to evacuate.

In response to the Garner Complex fires, Gov. Kate Brown made an emergency declaration Saturday morning, allowing the State Fire Marshal to support fire services with firefighters and equipment from around the state.

A team will be coming in to help protect structures, said Tina Young, public information officer for the Garner Complex fires.

“We’re here to fight fire. When they come in, they’re here to protect homes,” Young said.

This complex is one of the state's top priorities, but the sheer number of blazes currently burning have impacted air quality, closed roads and trails, and sparked evacuation warnings.

The eight major wildfires and multi-fire complexes were ignited by lightning last weekend. They're now burning across a wide area — from Crater Lake to the Siskiyou Mountains.

MORE: Substation Fire grows to 70,000 acres, is 15 percent contained

“Wildfires are burning across the state and several are concentrated in one area spanning Jackson and Josephine counties,” Brown said. “I ask Oregonians to remember that preventing wildfires is critical this year.”

The fires have inundated the Rogue and Illinois valleys with smoke, bringing air quality rated "unhealthy" in Medford and Ashland Friday morning.

Conditions are expected to remain challenging, with temperatures in the approaching triple digits for the next week and low humidity, even overnight. Lightning is also possible through the weekend.

Below is a breakdown of other major fires burning in Oregon.

Here's a map with fire locations and areas under evacuation.

Wildfire Prevention: Keeping your home safe As temperatures in Oregon rise, so does the danger for wildfires. Here are tips to prevent wildfires by keeping your campfire safe.

Hendrix Fire (evacuation warnings near Rush and Applegate Valley)

This wildfire is burning southwest of Ashland, in the Little Applegate River area, grew to 947 acres by Saturday afternoon.

The Hendrix Fire has brought evacuation warnings for around 35 homes in the Ruch and Applegate Valley area. It is 15 percent contained.

It has also closed a large area of roads and trails in the region, including 13 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail from Observation Gap to the Grouse Gap Shelter.

South Umpqua Complex (evacuation warnings near Tiller)

This complex of a couple dozen wildfires between Crater Lake and Interstate 5 near Myrtle Creek brought evacuations to the Tiller area and closures of roads and trails.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office issued a level 2 evacuation warning, meaning “get set” to go at any moment, for six homes on Tison Road.

Several trails were also closed in Diamond Lake Ranger District, North Umpqua Ranger District and Tiller Ranger District. More than a dozen roads are also closed in the Tiller Ranger District.

The complex is around 2,229 acres and is 10 percent contained.

For more details on the South Umpqua Complex, including more details on closures, click here.

Natchez Fires

The Natchez Fire, located 15 miles south of Cave Junction, grew by Saturday morning to 4,212 acres and moved south into California’s Klamath National Forest. It remains zero percent contained.

Due to the growth, a large area on the Oregon and California border — near the Siskiyou Wilderness southeast of Cave Junction — was closed.

To see a map of the closure area, see this post.

This collection of fires also includes two in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness — not far from last year’s Chetco Bar Fire.

Also included in this fire complex are the Klondike, Poker and Granite fires.

The growth of the Klondike Fire drew a level 2 evacuation warning for the residences in Oak Flat, located west of Selma in the Illinois River corridor.

Level 2 means "get set" to go at any moment.

“Helicopters have been helpful in slowing upslope fire movement, although Tuesday night strong east winds caused the fire to breach containment lines,” said a report.

The Granite fire also continues to grow. But fire officials report the Poker Fire is now contained.

Timber Crater 6 Fire

Growing to 702 acres through Saturday morning, this wildfire is burning in a remote northeast corner of Crater Lake National Park.

The park remains open and so far there are no closures are associated with the fire.

"The fire is actively burning in mixed conifer in the northeast corner of (the park)," said a news release.

A lightning storm last Sunday initially ignited eight small fires, most of which were doused. This appears to be the only one still burning.

A fire team is actively suppressing the fire.

"With the number of new fires in the Northwest this week, firefighting resources are strained," the news release said. "However, the Timber Crater 6 Fire is being aggressively managed for full suppression."

Sugar Pine fires

There are numerous small to medium sized wildfires burning north of Prospect and Tiller on either side of Oregon Highway 62 south of Crater Lake. Collectively they have burned 326 acres and are known as Sugar Pine, which is also the name of the largest of those fires.

The titular Sugar Pine Fire is 250 acres and crews were still establishing an access rout to the blaze Saturday morning.

There could be slow-moving traffic in the area, particularly near the Highway 62 entrances to Joseph Steward State Park

Other active fires in the area include:

Round Top — 125 acres

Union — 104 acres

Goodview — 77 acres

Elk Horn — 10 acres

Junction — 8 acres

Wagner Creek Complex in Jackson County

This complex of around 12 fires in Jackson County is in mop-up as of Saturday, a "success story," said Ferguson, the public information officer.

These fires include: Trail Creek, Elk Creek, Green Top Mountain, Sterling Creek and Railroad Gap. The complex burned at least 250 acres.

Contact the reporter at cradnovich@statesmanjournal.com or 503-399-6864, or follow him on Twitter at @CDRadnovich