FINAL UPDATE: SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 11:15 a.m.
This is the final update about the Cleveland Ridge Fire unless conditions change.
The number of hot spots remaining inside the Cleveland Ridge Fire’s fire line is dwindling as burning vegetation either naturally burns out, or firefighters extinguish them. The day shift’s objective is to put out all hot spots within 300 feet of the fire line, and go farther when it is warranted.
The fire remains at 530 acres and is 80 percent contained. Today, 130 firefighters are working on the fire. Last night, 85 firefighters continued the mop-up operation and patrolled the fire perimeter.
The number of private contract firefighters assigned to the Cleveland Ridge Fire will continue to decrease this weekend until the final mop-up operation is turned over to seven 10-man crews from the Oregon Department of Corrections. They will be supported by a small fleet of wildland fire engines and water tenders, as well as fallers to cut down hazardous trees. An air tanker, helicopters and bulldozers will be available from the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Southwest Oregon District, based in Central Point.
The fire burned on private and Bureau of Land Management forestland 5 miles north/northwest of Shady Cove. Rehabilitation projects to protect the landscape against undue erosion and invasive plants will begin as mop-up operations decrease.
UPDATE: FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 8:08 a.m
Night shift firefighters made good progress toward the goal of completely extinguishing all hot spots 100 feet inside of the fire line around the Cleveland Ridge Fire. Today, more than 260 day shift firefighters continue the task of mopping up smoldering stumps and other vegetation burned by the fire that began on Monday.
The fire has stabilized at 530 acres and is 60 percent contained.
Some crews, fire engines and aircraft will be released from the fire today, as there are other wildfires burning elsewhere in Oregon that need additional fire-fighting resources. The fire camp at TouVelle State Park will stay in place through the weekend and possibly into early next week.
The fire burned on private and Bureau of Land Management forestland 5 miles north/northwest of Shady Cove. Rehabilitation projects to protect the landscape against undue erosion and invasive plants will begin as mop-up operations penetrate deeper into the burned area.
Information about fire activity and fire prevention regulations are posted on the “ODF Southwest Oregon District” Facebook page, @ODFSouthwest, and the website www.swofire.com. Maps of the Cleveland Ridge Fire can be found at https://swofiredata.com.
UPDATE: THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 6:55 a.m.
Firefighters were finally able to safely walk the perimeter of the Cleveland Ridge Fire last night allowing for a more accurate mapping of the fire. Until firefighters deem the perimeter safe, sizing estimates are made by aerial support. Crews used handheld GPS units to walk along the fire, now estimating it at 530 acres. Fire crews also strengthened fire line overnight, with some areas reaching 25 to 30 feet wide in order to prevent spot fires today.
The fire burning on private and Bureau of Land Management forestlands north/northwest of Shady Cove has a fire line completed around 100 percent of the fire and is 35 percent contained as of this morning.
The fire was reported at 4:01 p.m. Monday and started near the West Fork of Trail Creek Rd. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Air and ground support will work today to knock down the fire, continue strengthening control lines and work on mopping up hot spots along the perimeter. There will be a focus on the north side of the fire where the Cleveland Ridge Fire is most actively burning.
Weather conditions today could pose a challenge for firefighters. Temperatures are expected to range from 95-98 degrees, relative humidity between 10-12 percent, morning east/northeast winds at 3 mph with potential gusts up to 8 mph, and evening north/northwest winds at 3-5 mph with gusts up 8 mph. The fire is burning in grass, brush and mixed-age conifer forest. The topography ranges from moderate to very steep. Road access is good to the east and west flanks of the fire, and has increasingly improved on the north side.
The Level 1 (Be Ready) Evacuation Notice will remain in effect for residents on Taylor Rd. and the West Fork of Trail Creek Rd., as well as residents along Hwy. 227 from the junction with the West Fork of Trail Creek Rd. to address 6481 Hwy. 227. Firefighters will continue to monitor all structures surrounding the flanks of the fire throughout the day.
Sections of West Fork Trail Creek Road remain closed today. While all other roads are currently open, we ask that people are cautious while traveling through areas with high fire traffic.
As a reminder, TouVelle State Park in Central Point is closed to the public. The park is being used as the site for the Cleveland Ridge Fire fire camp. Please avoid the area in order to allow fire traffic the accessibility they need to the entrance/exit points.
Fire management officials ask that the public continue to use caution and adhere to regulations. Current fire restrictions for lands in Jackson and Josephine Counties protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District can be found on the district’s Facebook page ODF Southwest Oregon District and the website www.swofire.com.
UPDATE: Tuesday, August 23, 9:10 p.m.. ...
A force of more than 200 firefighters worked throughout the day Tuesday to relocate fire lines on the northeast and southeast flanks of the Cleveland Ridge Fire, burning on private and Bureau of Land Management forestlands north/northwest of Shady Cove. The fire grew along these flanks today but a wide bulldozer-constructed fire line along the spine of Cleveland Ridge held as the fire reached the ridgetop.
The fire has reached 574 acres in size and fire line has been completed around 80 percent of the fire.
The night shift crews, comprised of approximately 150 firefighters, will work to complete the fire line on the north flank and hold established fire lines around the rest of the perimeter.
Residents on Taylor Rd. and the West Fork of Trail Creek Rd. remain under a Level 2 (Set) Evacuation Level, which into effect at 8:00 a.m. Tuesday. Residents along Hwy. 227 from the junction with the West Fork of Trail Creek Rd. to address 6481 were also placed under the Level 2 alert. More than 40 structures are within the evacuation alert area.
A structural protection strike team stood by Tuesday to protect homes and other structures in the event the wildfire posed a threat. The team is assembled from engines and personnel from fire districts in Jackson and Josephine counties. They will remain in place throughout tonight.
Helicopters with water buckets flew throughout the day to cool spot fires and hot spots along the fire lines. (One of the helicopters made 105 bucket drops.) Air tankers made numerous retardant drops in areas where the fire either crossed or threaten to cross fire lines.
Much of the increased acreage today was due to the fire burning a large tract of forestland west of Cleveland Ridge. This area contains many steep, rocky bluffs and other rugged terrain that was too dangerous for firefighters to work in.
The fire was reported at 4:01 p.m. Monday, and its cause is under investigation.
UPDATE: TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 4:00 p.m. ...
A Level Two, (Be Set) evacuation notice is in effect for homes along Tiller Trail Highway 227 from W. Fork Trail Creek Rd. through 6481 Tiller Trail Highway 227, as well as areas surrounding the fire along W. Fork Trail Creek Rd. No structures have been lost, but at least 40 are threatened.
ORIGINAL POST: TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 9:12 a.m. ...
Fire crews continued battling a wildfire Tuesday that grew to 250-acres after sparking Monday afternoon about five miles northwest of Shady Cove in Jackson County.
The Oregon Department of Forestry said the Cleveland Ridge Fire was burning on private and Bureau of Land Management property and threatened 40 structures.
As of Tuesday morning the fire was 70 percent lined. Investigators had safely marked off the point of origin and started working on finding a cause. Sections of the West Fork Trail Creek Road remained closed Tuesday and there was a chance of Level One (Get Ready) evacuation notices for homes along Tiller Trail Highway 227 and remote areas surrounding the fire.
ODF Public Information Officer Melissa Cano said the cooler temperatures reduced fire activity overnight and was just one example of how Mother Nature has stepped in to help fight wildfires this summer.
Cano said the 2016 wildfire season has been a quiet one for the Southwest Oregon District and wondered whether it was “the calm before the storm.”
Cano warned that dry conditions and approaching heat waves could bring an unwelcome end to the quiet, but so far, a heavier snowpack last winter, a cooler start to the summer and the location of natural resources has helped keep fires relatively mild so far.
“We’ve been fortunate that the placement, I guess, of the fires has been near creeks and lakes and ponds that have been easily accessible for our aircraft,” Cano said.
Cano said it’s important people follow wildfire season regulations and don’t become a source of ignition.
