7/13/2024 Salt Creek Fire Update

Salt Creek Fire Update

Salt Creek Fire Facebook – Experiencing technical difficulties

Incident contact information:
saltcreekfire2024@gmail.com
(541) 622-3834

EAGLE POINT, Ore. – With the entire perimeter lined, work on the Salt Creek Fire is now focused on mop up for the remainder of the incident. Updates to mapping put the fire at 4,081 acres, and an infrared (IR) flight across the whole area is scheduled for this evening to confirm a final acreage.

Overnight, firefighters used multiple types of IR devices to search for hot spots, or smoldering patches of vegetation, roots and coals that could later reignite in hot conditions. With these specific locations identified and marked on maps, today’s day shift resources will be better able to find and extinguish these areas holding leftover heat.

“We’ve worked incredibly hard in a short amount of time to get to this point where the fire is lined and holding,” Joe Hessel said, IMT 1 Incident Commander. “The work that’s left will require us to be methodical and thorough.”

Today, resources will pick up where night shift left off and build on the progress that has already been made around the perimeter. Mop up totals range from 50 to 200 feet deep into the interior of the fire, which illustrates how wide and secure the line itself is in each area.

Today, more than 750 personnel are assigned to the fire for Saturday’s day shift, including 27 20-person crews, 22 engines, 12 water tenders, 13 tree fallers, seven dozers and various types of logging equipment.

BLM Medford District has temporarily closed BLM-managed lands in the area for safety. For more info go to: https://www.blm.gov/orwafire

Level 1, “BE READY,” evacuation notices issued by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management remain in effect. Learn more about evacuations at: https://protect.genasys.com/

Extreme fire danger is in effect; follow all current fire restrictions to prevent fires. Learn more at:

• The ODF Southwest Oregon District: https://www.facebook.com/ODFSouthwest/
• The RRSNF Alerts and Notices page www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/rogue-siskiyou/alerts-notices and website homepage www.fs.usda.gov/rogue-siskiyou
• The BLM OR/WA Fire Management Page: www.blm.gov/orwafire

The Salt Creek Fire is located 10 miles east of Eagle Point and was first reported Sunday, July 7, just after 4 p.m. The cause is under investigation.

FIRE AT A GLANCE
Estimated Size: 4,081 acres
Containment: 32%
Cause: Under Investigation
Estimated Cost: $6.5 million
Evacuations
Evacuation Level 1: BE READY for Zones JAC-316, JAC-317, JAC-319, JAC-321 and JAC-325-A.
Road Closures
Salt Creek Road and Wasson Canyon Road remained closed at Highway 140, and Double Day Road is closed off of Butte Falls Highway. Highway 140 and Butte Falls Highway remain open.
All Resources
Total Personnel: 1,154
Hand Crews: 42
Engines: 41
Water Tenders: 23
Dozers: 21
Helicopters: 11
Large Airtankers & Single Engine Airtankers are available upon request.
Incident Commander:
Joe Hessel Oregon Department of Forestry, IMT 1