One evacuation zone near the fire origin in the 2000 block of Upper Applegate Road remains at Level 3 Go Now!

By Ryan Pfeil and Bert Etling, Ashland.news

Firefighters were holding the Upper Applegate Fire at about 350 acres with minimal growth Wednesday evening, according to an update from the Oregon Department of Forestry.

The left flank of the fire was “almost entirely lined” and “fire activity has significantly decreased on portions of the right flank,” according to the update.

“We’ve been holding it at 350 acres for a couple hours at this point,” ODF public information officer Natalie Weber said around 7:50 p.m. “Essentially, the wind did start dying down, but we had been really painting that left flank with retardant.”

Aircraft played a key role in that effort: five helicopters, four large air tankers, and one very large air tanker, or VLAT.

“That’s been huge to the progress we’ve made,” Weber said.

Weber added that firefighters have since pushed in and are strengthening that left flank to make permanent fire lines. Meanwhile, activity on the right flank has also been dying down.

“Essentially, the vegetation is just burning itself out. We’ve just been holding that line where it is,” Weber said.

Overnight, eight additional 20-person crews, eight engines, six bulldozers, and six water tenders will be at the scene.

One of the evacuation zones near the fire, JAC-427, was downgraded to Level 2 Be Set from Level 3 Go Now!, Jackson County officials announced at 7:33 p.m.

Fire crews responding to a report of a fast-moving fire in the Applegate Valley were on scene at 12:42 p.m. Wednesday. Flames were moving uphill in the 2000 block of East Applegate Road, just southeast of Cantrall Buckley Park, according to ODF officials.

A Level 3 Go Now! evacuation alert was issued at 1:37 p.m. Wednesday for county evacuation zone JAC-427 in the area of the 2000 block of Upper Applegate Road. Zone 436 was also upgraded to Level 3 Go Now! shortly before 3 p.m. Area 427 was downgraded to Level 2 about 7:30 p.m.

Level 2 Be Set alerts are in effect for JAC-421, 427 and 437, and a Level 1 Be Ready alert for areas 419, 422, 428 and 443 as of 7:40 p.m. County evacuation zone maps are available at jacksoncountyor.gov/departments/emergency_management/know_your_zone.php.

Those evacuating may make use of a county evacuation shelter at Jacksonville Elementary School, 655 Hueners Lane, Jacksonville. A small domestic pet shelter is also available at the same location.

A county livestock shelter is open at  the Jackson County Expo fairgrounds, 1 Peninger Road, Central Point.

“Numerous resources are en route, and we’re currently placing an order for multiple helicopters and an air attack plane,” the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Soutwest Division Facebook page read Wednesday afternoon.

At about 1:25 p.m, fire officials estimated the blaze had grown to about “80-100 acres” in size and moving “at a high rate of speed,” according to the Watch Duty app.

Responding agencies include ODF, the Applegate Fire District, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, and multiple structural partners agencies including Jackson County Fire District 3, Jackson County Fire District 5, the Jacksonville Fire Department, Ashland Fire & Rescue, and Medford Fire-Rescue.

“It is burning uphill, and that area can be very steep,” Weber said in the early stages of crews responding to the scene. “We are getting as many resources as we can out there right now.”

Just before 3:30 p.m., the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office reported mobilizing two structural protection task forces from Lane and Marion counties.

“This is our third mobilization this month, a clear signal that wildfire season is here,” a statement from State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple reads. “We need to do everything we can as Oregonians to be wildfire aware. This fire season has been devastating already with the tragic loss of homes in the Gorge and a second conflagration earlier this week in Jefferson County. Please help our firefighters by following local restrictions.” 

Four additional task forces from Jackson and Josephine counties also responded.

The Ruch Library near the intersection of Highway 238 and Upper Applegate Road closed as a precaution shortly before 2 p.m. Wednesday.

As of 3 p.m., Upper Applegate Road is closed between Little Applegate Road and Hamilton Road.

Email Ashland.news at news@ashland.news.

2:59 p.m.: Updated evacuation information.

3:44 p.m.: Added evacuation shelter information

3:55 p.m.: Added information about task force mobilization.

7:40 p.m.: Updates made to fire size, evacuation level status.