EAGLE POINT, Ore. – Crews are making great progress on the Salt Creek Fire, keeping the overnight growth to approximately 50 acres.
According to ODF, the fire which is burning north of Highway 140 is now at 3,891 acres. It is also 95% lined and 16% contained.
ODF Southwest said Thursday’s focus will be to keep the fire within the existing fire-line.
The north and northwestern side of the fire saw mop-up activities overnight on Wednesday.
Crews are working to remove unburned material and vegetation to further secure their lines. Nearly 700 firefighters are assigned to the fire.
During the Thursday morning update, ODF Operations Section Chief, Kyle Gibbons, clears up some confusion on the difference between lined and contained when it comes to fighting a wildfire like this.
“Once we get a line around the fire, that’s not, we’re not calling it contained. So, that portion of the fire if we have a hand line where we come in, put in line with hand tools and people on the ground or if we use a dozer, bulldozer, excavator something like that, skidder or if we use hand crews that’s not considered contained until we get in there with water and work those hot spots along the edge and we feel confident that that section of the fire is not gonna, not going to jump out,” Gibbons explains. “So, that’s where we develop containment versus getting a line around the fire.”
ODF says with increased wind and extremely dry fuel conditions expected the focus for Thursday is to hold the fire within the existing perimeter.
Thursday morning BLM announced the temporary closure of all agency-managed lands around the Salt Creek Fire.
Level 1 evacuations are still active for zones JAC-316, 317, 319, 321, and 325-A, but have not changed since Wednesday.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office advises people to find their zone by visiting the official Jackson County Oregon Know Your Zone website.
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