Separate fire south of Shady Cove caused delays on Highway 62

Rogue Valley Times staff report

Multiple fire agencies threw all the ground and air resources they have at a pair of wildfires Thursday afternoon and into the evening, one south of Shady Cove and another in the Applegate.

Forward progress of a 50- to 60-acre fire burning along Highway 62 south of Shady Cove has been stopped, according to an update at 8 p.m. Thursday evening from the Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District.

“Firefighters will continue to work lining this fire and begin mop-up work tonight,” the Facebook post said.

The Upper Applegate Fire in the 3900 block of Upper Applegate Road was estimated at 100 acres as of Thursday evening, the 8 p.m. update said, and a Level 1 “Be Ready” evacuation notice for a portion of the Jacksonville-Ruch area has been expanded. See the Jackson County Emergency Management page for more information.

The area earlier Thursday was classified as Evac Zone JAC-434, which is Eastside Road South of Little Applegate Road to the McKee Bridge in Jacksonville.

“Resources are being ordered for a night shift on both incidents,” a previous ODF release said.

The evacuation notice instructs people to prepare to evacuate, or to act early if there is any reason a person may need extra time to evacuate. Those in the evacuation zone are instructed to leave right away if they feel they are in immediate danger.

For more information on evacuation zones, see protect.genasys.com.

In a previous update issued at 5:05 p.m., ODF officials say multiple aircraft have been ordered for the two fires, including two medium-duty Type 2 helicopters, one heavy-duty Type 1 helicopter, an air-attack plane and a large air tanker.

The Shady Cove area fire caused traffic delays between mileposts 15 and 17, according to a 4:45 p.m. update issued by the Oregon Department of Transportation. Traffic officials ask motorists to be prepared to slow, not to stop on the shoulder and to allow access for emergency vehicles.

This story first appeared in the Rogue Valley Times.