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ODF Continues to Aggressively Attack More Than 72 Fires Sparked by Lightning

The Oregon Department of Forestry is continuing to aggressively attack wildfires that were sparked by lightning on Monday night across Jackson and Josephine counties. As of this morning, a total of 72 fires had been identified on ODF-protected lands in the two-county region. Since the start of the thunderstorms, firefighters have worked nonstop to respond to all reports of fire, keeping them as small as possible. Due to the sheer volume of local incidents and the potential for holdover fires, ODF Incident Management Team 3 will move in today to take a portion of the fires off the district's plate, allowing local firefighters to focus on a smaller number of lingering fires and be ready for any new reports that could come in. Last night, ODF crews remained engaged on fires in both counties, the largest being the Neil Creek Fire located south of Ashland and west of Interstate 5. It was estimated to be 250 acres and forced the closure of one lane of southbound I-5 overnight between mileposts 8.5 and 10.5. The fire also prompted the Jackson County Sheriff's Office and Emergency Management to place Level 2 evacuation notices into effect for residents in the surrounding area. The second largest fire is the Deming Gulch Fire located northeast of Buncom, which was estimated to be 200 acres this morning. Other large incidents included the Heppsie Mountain Fire located south of Highway 140 near Lake Creek, the Poole Hill Fire located south of the Heppsie Mountain Fire, the Jim Me Peak Fire located south of Applegate and the Palmer Peak Fire also located near Applegate. Across all incidents, 435 personnel are working today. ODF firefighters have successfully extinguished 11 fires in the district including the Pompadour Fire in the hills east of Ashland that was halted at 38 acres.

Posted on 7/9/25 11:28AM by Sam Marsh

Firefighters Battle Multiple Wildfires on Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest

Firefighters on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest have responded to multiple confirmed wildfires and many more reports of smoke after widespread lightning moved through the area on Monday night. Air and ground resources are engaged in suppression efforts across the area, working in cooperation with the Oregon Department of Forestry and Medford BLM District as well as local and county structural fire departments. Current active wildfires on the Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District include the Kinney Fire 10 miles southwest of Ruch that is approximately 95 acres. Smaller incidents include the Lower Fire 1.5 miles southeast of Grayback Mountain, the Donomore Fire one mile northwest of Donomore Cabin, the Waters Fire five miles from McKee Bridge, the Alex Fire 10 miles southeast of Copper, the Ash Flats Fire six miles east of Copper, the Grayback Fire three miles east of Applegate Lake, the Deadman Fire 15 miles southwest of Ashland, the Jim Creek Fire eight miles southwest of Ashland, the Baldy Fire 10 miles south of Ruch, the River Fire three miles south of Ruch and the Summit Fire 1.5 miles south of Acorn Woman Lake. On the Wild Rivers Ranger District, incidents include the Sugarloaf Fire seven miles southeast of Steamboat, the Page Fire just south of Takilma and the Buckskin Fire four miles west of O'Brien. On the High Cascades Ranger District, there are the Swamp Fire west of Swamp Creek Reservoir, the Soda Springs Fire 20 miles southeast of Eagle Point, the Latgawa Fire 16 miles southeast of Ashland and the Kerby Fire 12 miles east of Prospect. Reconnaissance by air and ground will be ongoing to locate any new fire starts.

Posted on 7/9/25 11:26AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Man for Starting Altercation at Residential Treatment Center

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for violating his probation after he started an altercation with another patient at a residential treatment center last night. The Police Department reports officers arrested 49-year-old Brent Lee Gordon for the incident at the OnTrack Center on Rogue River Highway on Tuesday around 10 p.m.. Police said Gordon had been drinking when he started a verbal altercation with another resident in the common area. They said the other resident escalated the situation by throwing Gordon to the ground and slamming his arm in a door. After the tussle concluded, both parties when back to their rooms. Gordon then emerged from his room with a camping hatchet and paced the kitchen area until he got bored and returned to his quarters. He did not threaten anyone with the hatchet and did not wish to pursue charges against his assailant, but still had to answer some questions from his corrections officer. The officer was not happy to hear that Gordon had been drinking and possessing a weapon, so his client was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Probation Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 7/9/25 11:25AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Corrections Client for Suspicious Activity Outside Pawn Shop

Grants Pass Police jailed a Josephine County Community Corrections client for suspicious activity outside a downtown pawn shop late last night. The Police Department reports officers arrested 36-year-old Justin Harley Bennett for the incident outside The Jewelry Center on SW 6th Street on Tuesday shortly before midnight. Police said the manager of the pawn shop called 9-1-1 after a security company reported alarm hits at the business. The manager said it appeared a male subject was trying to get into the building. Surveillance video showed him near a window. An investigation determined that Bennett was observed on video kicking the front door and hitting the windows. Officers said there was no damage at the scene and entry was not gained, but the man's corrections officer wanted him detained. Bennett was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Parole Violation stemming from a 2022 conviction for an unspecified crime. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 7/9/25 11:24AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Woman for Vandalizing Neighbor's Car and Resisting Arrest

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for vandalizing her neighbor's vehicle and then attempting to avoid being placed into custody yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a reported vandalism incident in the 1600-block of Medart Lane on Tuesday around 11:30 a.m.. Police said they contacted 63-year-old Peri Hana Smith-Day after her neighbor reported that Smith-Day smeared pizza and cigarette butts all over their Buick Enclave before writing on the rear window with a green substance. The message stated: "Ha, no violation, wasting your time." Upon contact, Smith-Day admitting to vandalizing her neighbor's vehicle. She was advised that she was under arrest, but pulled away and tried to avoid apprehension. Smith-Day was arrested and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Resisting Arrest and 3rd-Degree Criminal Mischief. She was being held without bail. According to the report, a male companion of the suspect complained to officers that he felt his friend was being arrested "unjustly."

Posted on 7/9/25 11:22AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Nabbed Man on Drug Possession Warrant after Brief Bicycle Pursuit

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on a local warrant for drug possession yesterday following a brief bicycle pursuit across the Debbs Potts Memorial Bridge. According to the Police Department, officers observed 28-year-old Aleksandr Uchytil at Baker Park on Tuesday shortly after 1 p.m.. Police said they knew Uchytil was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for Fentanyl Possession and they moved in for the arrest. The suspect took off on his bicycle across the Parkway Bridge, turned west on SE M Street, rode into the Skate Park and tried to elude officers while riding his bike along an irrigation canal. Uchytil was placed into custody at Taser point after he abandoned his bike and tried to run away from law enforcement. He was lodged in jail on the warrant plus a new charge of Attempted Escape. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 7/9/25 11:21AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Woman for Repeatedly Trespassing at Northeast City Home

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman early yesterday for repeatedly trespassing at a northeast city residence. The Police Department reports officers responded to a trespassing call at a home in the 1300-block of NE 10th Street on Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. Police said 43-year-old Dion Micki Cleek returned to the residence after previously being arrested for Criminal Trespass. In fact, she had been arrested for the same crime three times in the past month. Cleek did not try to enter the home, but she was laying down in the front yard and refused to leave. She was placed into custody and lodged in jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. She was being held without bail.

Posted on 7/9/25 11:20AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Investigating Motor Vehicle Accident that Occurred near Lake Selmac

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office was investigating a motor vehicle accident that occurred last night near Lake Selmac. On Tuesday at 6:33 p.m., deputies and the Illinois Valley Fire District responded to a single-vehicle crash in the 3200-block of Lakeshore Drive near McMullen Creek Road. Deputies and firefighters arrived to find a dark-colored sedan that had crashed through a fence. No one was found at the scene and a search of the area was unsuccessful. Jerry's Towing removed the damaged vehicle and hauled it to Cave Junction.

Posted on 7/9/25 11:18AM by Sam Marsh

ODF Firefighters Continue Aggressive Attack on 72 Fires Caused by Lightning

Firefighters continued an aggressive attack on numerous fires caused by Monday night thunderstorms, making significant progress on the largest fires initially identified -- but also responding to multiple new reports of fires on Tuesday. In total across Jackson and Josephine counties, 72 fires on ODF-protected land have been confirmed by reconnaissance flights, detection cameras and firefighters. Due to the sheer volume of incidents and the potential for additional holdover fires, the district ordered Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team 3, which will mobilize from ODF districts across Oregon this morning. The Oregon State Fire Marshal has mobilized two structural task forces from Benton and Lane counties after a request for mutual aid by the Rogue Valley Fire Defense Board. As of Tuesday night, the largest fires across the district included the Heppsie Mountain Fire located south of Highway 140 near Lake Creek, which was estimated to be 40 acres; the Poole Hill Fire located south of the Heppsie Mountain Fire, which was estimated to be 15 acres; the Pompadour Fire located in the hills east of Ashland, which was halted at 38 acres; the Deming Gulch Fire located near Buncom, which was estimated to be 350 acres; the Neil Creek Road Fire located south of Ashland, which was estimated to be 35 acres; the Jim Me Peak Fire located in a remote area south of Applegate, which was estimated to be 30 acres; and the Palmer Peak Fire located near the Jim Me Peak Fire, which was estimated to be 20 acres. Numerous additional fires have been stopped at a small size and were completely mopped up by Tuesday evening.

Posted on 7/9/25 6:44AM by Sam Marsh

JMET Jailed Suspect in June 26th Raid on Illegal Cannabis Operations near CJ

The Josephine Marijuana Enforcement Team (JMET) arrested a suspect while raiding an illegal cannabis growing operation near Cave Junction. On June 26th, JMET -- with assistance from the FBI, IRS, Homeland Security Investigations and US Marshals Service -- served search warrants on two different properties in the 1,000-block of Waldo Road. During execution of the warrants, more than 9,000 marijuana plants and around 1,300 pounds of processed marijuana were seized and destroyed. One firearm was also found at one of the properties. Both properties had multiple electrical, water and solid waste code violations that could result in civil forfeiture. According to JMET, 35-year-old Angel Elias Sanchez was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Unlawful Manufacture and Felony Unlawful Possession of Marijuana plus Unlawful Appropriation of Water. The investigation is ongoing and no further details are being released at this time.

Posted on 7/9/25 6:43AM by Sam Marsh

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