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Crews continue mop up to secure Salt Creek Fire, containment grows to 41%

EAGLE POINT, Ore. – Firefighters on the Salt Creek Fire continue to mop up, expanding the cold black area adjacent to the fireline. Mop up depth ranges from 50 feet in some areas to more than 200 feet in other parts of the fire. During mop up, crews use heat-sensing detection cameras and hover the back of their hands over the ground to methodically locate hot spots. Firefighters then use water to cool these areas and remove any threat of rekindling the fire. The goal for mopping up to secure the fire is 150 feet in grassy fuels and 300 feet in heavier fuels, such as timber. Potential overhead hazards, such as snags and burned trees, are being felled before firefighters enter areas for mop up.

Today, cloud cover will help to moderate the heat slightly, but also brings the threat of potential thunderstorms. Extremely dry fuels in the area and wind from these storms could cause any new fires to rapidly expand. Firefighters and equipment from the Salt Creek Fire are available to support initial attack response in the local area.

More than 1,000 personnel are assigned to the fire, including 39 20-person crews, 35 engines, 22 water tenders, 13 tree fallers, 15 dozers and various types of logging equipment. This includes day shift and night shift personnel. Resources that are no longer needed for operations on the Salt Creek Fire are being released to be reassigned to other incidents across the state.

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/

The current fire danger level is extreme; follow all fire restrictions to help prevent fires. Learn more at:

• The ODF Southwest Oregon District: https://swofire.com/
• 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.