Applegate Fire District

𝙎𝙋𝙀𝙉𝘾𝙀𝙍 𝙂𝙐𝙇𝘾𝙃 𝙁𝙄𝙍𝙀 𝙈𝙊𝙍𝙉𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙐𝙋𝘿𝘼𝙏𝙀: Firefighters continued to make strong progress overnight on the fire, bringing containment to 30 percent this morning.

Crews worked hard through the night to strengthen lines and secure additional depth along the perimeter.

Today’s operations will focus on building off the momentum gained overnight continuing to deepen mop‑up and improving line security.
Aircraft are available and are ready to support any needs that may arise.

Beginning tonight, crews plan to start thermal imaging operations to ensure there are no hidden hotspots within the perimeter.

More updates will be provided as operations continue.

𝗛𝗜𝗚𝗛 𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗘𝗥 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗜𝗙𝗣𝗟 𝟮 𝗡𝗢𝗪 𝗜𝗡 𝗘𝗙𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧: As of 12:01 a.m., the fire danger level on the ODF Southwest Oregon District in Jackson and Josephine counties is High and the Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) is 2.

High fire danger affects the public use of power-driven equipment, such as chainsaws, mowers, w**d eaters, and more. The use of power-driven equipment, grinding, cutting of metal, and other spark-emitting equipment, such as wood splitters and generators, will be prohibited between the hours of 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily.

This does not apply to mowing green lawns.

Other fire prevention regulations which will remain in effect, include:

• No debris burning, including piles and debris burned in burn barrels

• No fireworks on or within 1/8th of a mile of ODF-protected land. Fireworks are prohibited on all BLM land

• Exploding targets and tracer ammunition, or any bullet with a pyrotechnic charge in its base, are prohibited

• Campfires are allowed only in designated campgrounds. Portable stoves or fire pits using liquefied or bottled fuels may be used in other locations that are clear of dry vegetation at all times

• Motorized vehicles, including motorcycles and all-terrain, are allowed only on improved roads; one shovel and one gallon of water, or one 2.5 pound or larger fire extinguisher, is required while traveling

• Smoking while traveling will only be allowed in enclosed vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water and other specifically designated locations

• Chainsaws may not be used between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. during high fire danger. During hours outside of this time frame, chainsaws may be used but require that the operator have one shovel and one 8-oz or larger fire extinguisher at the work site. A fire watch is also required for one hour after each chainsaw use

• Cutting, grinding, and welding of metal is not allowed between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. during high fire danger. These activities will be allowed during hours outside of this time frame only if the work site is cleared of potentially flammable vegetation and other materials, and a water supply is at the job site

• The mowing of dead or dried grass with power-driven equipment is not allowed between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. during high fire danger, including equipment powered by gas, electricity or batteries. This restriction does not include mowing of green lawns, or equipment used for the commercial culture and harvest of agricultural crops

• Any other spark-emitting internal combustion engine-use not specifically mentioned is not allowed between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. during high fire danger. Use of any spark-emitting internal combustion engine is allowed outside of this time frame only if the work site is cleared of potentially flammable vegetation and other materials, and a water supply is at the job site

• Any electric fence controllers must be approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories Inc., or be certified by the Department of Consumer and Business Services, and be installed and used in compliance with the fence controller’s instructions for fire safe operation

For industrial operations, under IFPL II (Two) – limited shutdown, which is entirely separate from all public fire restrictions, the following may operate after 8 p.m. and up until 1 p.m. daily:

• Power saws, except at loading sites

• Feller-bunchers with rotary head saws

• Cable yarding

• Blasting

• Welding, cutting, or grinding of metal

A fire watch is also required. For more information about current fire regulations, visit our website at https://swofire.com

𝙋𝙐𝘽𝙇𝙄𝘾 𝙐𝙎𝙀 𝙍𝙀𝙎𝙏𝙍𝙄𝘾𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉𝙎 𝘿𝙐𝙍𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙁𝙄𝙍𝙀 𝙎𝙀𝘼𝙎𝙊𝙉: Not sure what each fire danger level allows? Our peacock card breaks each fire danger level down in one quick guide.

Printed copies are also available at our office locations.

Medford Unit, 5286 Table Rock Rd., Central Point. (541) 664-3328
Grants Pass Unit, 5375 Monument Dr., Grants Pass. (541) 474-3152

𝙁𝙄𝙍𝙀 𝘿𝘼𝙉𝙂𝙀𝙍 𝘼𝙉𝘿 𝙄𝙁𝙋𝙇 𝙄𝙉𝘾𝙍𝙀𝘼𝙎𝙀: The fire danger level on lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Southwest Oregon District will increase to “high” (yellow) and the Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) will increase to Level 2 (two) on Wednesday, June 17, 2026 at 12:01 a.m.

This increase is due to persistent hot temperatures and vegetation that continues to dry across Southwest Oregon. ODF Southwest responded to multiple fires in recent days, with the largest being the Spencer Gulch Fire roughly 4 miles south of Ruch. Firefighters were able to stop the forward spread at approximately 75 acres, and crews remain on scene working to fully secure and mop up the fire. This change affects 1.8 million acres of state, private, county and Bureau of Land Management lands in Jackson and Josephine counties.

The primary difference between current fire prevention restrictions and those beginning on Thursday affects the public use of power‑driven equipment, such as chainsaws, mowers, w**d eaters, and more. The use of power‑driven equipment, grinding, cutting of metal, and other spark‑emitting equipment, such as wood splitters and generators, will be prohibited between the hours of 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily. This does not apply to mowing green lawns.

Other fire prevention regulations which will remain in effect, include:

• No debris burning, including piles and debris burned in burn barrels

• No fireworks on or within 1/8th of a mile of ODF-protected land. Fireworks are prohibited on all BLM land

• Exploding targets and tracer ammunition, or any bullet with a pyrotechnic charge in its base, are prohibited

• Campfires are allowed only in designated campgrounds. Portable stoves or fire pits using liquefied or bottled fuels may be used in other locations that are clear of dry vegetation at all times

• Motorized vehicles, including motorcycles and all-terrain, are allowed only on improved roads; one shovel and one gallon of water, or one 2.5 pound or larger fire extinguisher, is required while traveling

• Smoking while traveling will only be allowed in enclosed vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water and other specifically designated locations

• Chainsaws may not be used between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. during high fire danger. During hours outside of this time frame, chainsaws may be used but require that the operator have one shovel and one 8-oz or larger fire extinguisher at the work site. A fire watch is also required for one hour after each chainsaw use

• Cutting, grinding, and welding of metal is not allowed between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. during high fire danger. These activities will be allowed during hours outside of this time frame only if the work site is cleared of potentially flammable vegetation and other materials, and a water supply is at the job site

• The mowing of dead or dried grass with power-driven equipment is not allowed between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. during high fire danger, including equipment powered by gas, electricity or batteries. This restriction does not include mowing of green lawns, or equipment used for the commercial culture and harvest of agricultural crops

• Any other spark-emitting internal combustion engine-use not specifically mentioned is not allowed between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. during high fire danger. Use of any spark-emitting internal combustion engine is allowed outside of this time frame only if the work site is cleared of potentially flammable vegetation and other materials, and a water supply is at the job site

• Any electric fence controllers must be approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories Inc., or be certified by the Department of Consumer and Business Services, and be installed and used in compliance with the fence controller’s instructions for fire safe operation

For industrial operations, under IFPL II (Two) – limited shutdown, which is entirely separate from all public fire restrictions, the following may operate after 8 p.m. and up until 1 p.m. daily:

• Power saws, except at loading sites

• Feller-bunchers with rotary head saws

• Cable yarding

• Blasting

• Welding, cutting, or grinding of metal

For more information about the Oregon Department of Forestry’s fire season restrictions, please call or visit the Southwest Oregon District unit office nearest to you:
Medford Unit, 5286 Table Rock Rd., Central Point. (541) 664-3328
Grants Pass Unit, 5375 Monument Dr., Grants Pass. (541) 474-3152
Fire season information is also available online at our page, and our website, www.swofire.com.

UPDATE:
ODF Southwest Oregon District is on scene and has assumed command. Please look to ODF for further updates on this incident.

UPDATE:
Please be advised that units are blocking off Upper Applegate Road at Spencer Gulch Road.

HAPPENING NOW:
Crews are on scene of a 3-5 acre brush fire in the 500 block of Spencer Gulch Road. Fire is described as being located in flashy fuels.

Please avoid the area between the 400 and 600 block of Spencer Gulch Road while crews are on scene.

𝙁𝙄𝙍𝙀 𝘿𝘼𝙉𝙂𝙀𝙍 𝙄𝙉𝘾𝙍𝙀𝘼𝙎𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙏𝙊 𝙈𝙊𝘿𝙀𝙍𝘼𝙏𝙀: Fire danger on Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Southwest Oregon District-protected land will increase to moderate (blue) on Thursday, June 11, 2026 at 12:01 a.m. Lands affected by this declaration include 1.8 million acres of state, private, county, city and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) forestlands in Jackson and Josephine counties. The Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) will remain at one.

Although the region has seen a brief stretch of cooler days, vegetation continues to dry, and the increasing heat this week will accelerate that drying as temperatures climb toward the 100 degree mark. This combination of ongoing drying and rising heat is increasing fire danger and prompting the shift to moderate on Thursday.

Beginning Thursday at 12:01 a.m., the following new public fire restrictions will take effect:

• Open fires are prohibited, which includes campfires, charcoal fires, cooking fires and warming fires, except at locations deemed a designated campground. Portable cooking stoves or firepits using liquefied or bottled fuels are still allowed in areas clear of flammable vegetation;

• Chainsaws may not be used between 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. during moderate fire danger. During hours outside of this time frame, chainsaws may be used but require that the operator have one shovel and one 8 ounce or larger fire extinguisher at the work site. A fire watch is also required for one hour after each chainsaw use;

• Cutting, grinding and welding of metal is not allowed between 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. during moderate fire danger. These activities will be allowed during hours outside of this time frame only if the work site is a cleared area and a charged garden hose or one 2½ pound or larger fire extinguisher is at the job site;

• The mowing of dead or dried grass with power-driven equipment is not allowed between 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. This restriction does not include mowing of green lawns, or equipment used for the commercial culture and harvest of agricultural crops;

• Motorized vehicles, including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, will be allowed only on improved roads free of flammable vegetation. One shovel and one gallon of water, or one 2½ pound or larger fire extinguisher, is required while traveling. All-terrain vehicles and motorcycles must be equipped with one 2½ pound or larger fire extinguisher;

• Possession of the following firefighting equipment is required while traveling, except on state highways, county roads and driveways: one shovel and one gallon of water or one 2½ pound or larger fire extinguisher. As noted above, all-terrain vehicles and motorcycles must be equipped with one 2½ pound or larger fire extinguisher;

• Any other spark-emitting internal combustion engine use not specifically mentioned is not allowed between 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. during moderate fire danger. Use of any spark-emitting internal combustion engine is allowed outside of this time frame only if the work site is a cleared area and a charged garden hose or one 2½ pound or larger fire extinguisher is at the job site;

Public fire restrictions currently in effect, which will remain in effect, include:

• No debris burning, including piles and debris burned in burn barrels.
• No fireworks on or within one eighth of a mile of ODF-protected land.
• Exploding targets and tracer ammunition, or any bullet with a pyrotechnic charge in its base, are prohibited.
• Smoking while traveling will only be allowed in enclosed vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water and other specifically designated locations.
• Any electric fence controllers must be approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory or be certified by the Department of Consumer and Business Services and be installed and used in compliance with the fence controller’s instructions for fire safe operation.

Following fire season regulations helps to decrease the number of human-caused fires, as these activities are known to create sparks and start fires.

For more information about the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Fire Season regulations, visit our page, or our website, www.swofire.com. You can also call or visit the Southwest Oregon District unit office nearest to you:

Medford Unit, 5286 Table Rock Rd., Central Point – (541) 664-3328 Grants Pass Unit, 5375 Monument Dr., Grants Pass – (541) 474-3152