KAJO 99.7FM - News Story

Firefighters Put Out Lightning-Caused Blaze in Crooks Creek Area near Selma

Firefighters extinguished a lightning-sparked fire in the mountains above Selma last night. The Oregon Department of Forestry reports crews responded to a report of smoke on a hilltop near Crooks Creek Road late Tuesday afternoon. The Crooks Creek Fire was estimated to be 3/4 of an acre as resources mounted an initial attack, working to get a line around it. A Type 2 helicopter was ordered to assist in the firefight. By 8 p.m., firefighters had halted the wildfire at an estimated one acre and it was fully lined. Resources continued to mop up until the fire was fully extinguished. After thunderstorms moved through the southwest Oregon region again last night, resources are watching areas where lightning strikes occurred and will respond to any other lightning-caused fires.

Posted on 7/17/24 11:20AM by Sam Marsh

Kitchen Fire Destroyed RV Being Used as Home on Haines Lane in Merlin

A kitchen fire destroyed a recreational vehicle being used as a residence in the Merlin area last night. On Tuesday at 10:11 p.m., Rural Metro Fire Department was dispatched to a reported large vehicle fire on Haines Lane. Rural Metro officials said the occupant was able to knock down the blaze with a fire extinguisher prior to the arrival of firefighters. They said a smoke alarm was sounding, but it wasn't a factor in the discovery of the fire. No one was injured. Firefighters encourage anyone using an RV for camping or as a primary residence to be sure smoke alarms are working, and a fire extinguisher is charged and easily accessible.

Posted on 7/17/24 11:18AM by Sam Marsh

Central Point Structure Fire Spread to Adjacent Field and Threatened Houses

A Central Point structure fire spread to an adjacent field and threatened several homes late yesterday. On Tuesday at 4:05 p.m., Jackson County Fire District #3 reported crews were responding to a fully-involved structure in the 4,000-block of Grant Road near Scenic Drive. There was a large smoke plume and the blaze had spread to a field. Ten minutes later, the fire was upgraded to a second alarm which brought the Oregon Department of Forestry, Medford Fire Department and Ashland Fire- Rescue to the scene. Crews worked to provide structure protection for nearby homes and to stop forward progress of the rapidly spreading grass fire. With the fire estimated to be between 15 and 20 acres, forward progress was stopped on the east and north sides of the incident. All neighboring structures were protected from the flames. ODF crews continued to work on the south and west sides of the blaze with support from aircraft including helicopters. By 5:05 p.m., firefighters had knocked down the flames on all sides and began mopping up. Crews from mutual aid partners were released, but Fire District #3 remained on scene mopping up hot spots. Residents in the area received a Level 1 "Be Ready" evacuation notice from the Jackson County Sheriff's Office that was upgraded to Level 2 "Be Set" at the height of the incident. All evacuation notices were lifted later in the evening.

Posted on 7/17/24 6:43AM by Sam Marsh

GP Crews Busy with Dollar Mountain Fire plus Downed Trees & Power Lines

Grants Pass firefighters knocked down a small fire on Dollar Mountain last night. On Tuesday at 8:07 p.m., Grants Pass Fire & Rescue was dispatched to a fire burning in the mountainous area in the northwest part of the city. Arriving units found a 1/10th of an acre blaze burning slowly in grass and brush. Two Battalion Chiefs, Engine 7308 from the Parkway Station and a fully-staffed brush truck were able to stop the fire's progression within five minutes of arrival. Engine 7307 responded from the Hillcrest Station to the top of NW Starlite Place to assist with finding the smoke and for potential structure protection. The cause of the fire was under investigation. Between the hours of 4:30 and 7:30 p.m., Grants Pass fire units responded to 14 calls related to the thunderstorm. Fortunately, there were no grass fires reported inside the city limits. All three Grants Pass engines and a brush truck assisted with downed trees, downed power lines and blocked traffic throughout the city. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to assist Rural Metro Fire Department with two vegetation fires outside the city limits, with one being less than 1/100th of an acre.

Posted on 7/17/24 6:41AM by Sam Marsh

ODF Responded to Numerous Lightning-Sparked Fires on Lower Rogue River

The Oregon Department of Forestry responded to at least eight lightning-sparked fires along the lower Rogue River northwest of Galice late yesterday and last night. ODF officials reported all the discovered fires were very small, ranging in size from 1/10th of an acre to a half-acre. The fires were located on steep, remote land that is difficult to access. Most required a long hike in and at least one required aircraft to drop firefighters off as the only means of access. Three 20-person hand crews were shifted from the Salt Creek Fire in Jackson County to the lower Rogue fire incidents. Additional resources were to be sent to the incidents this morning. Firefighters will engage in an aggressive initial attack on all of these fires today. An infrared flight has been ordered which will give better information about fire locations and sizes as well as identify additional potential starts that could be smoldering in the area. There are currently no closures or evacuations of surrounding roads or campgrounds.

Posted on 7/17/24 6:40AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Arrested Ashland Man for Multiple Crimes after Traffic Stop near Murphy

The Oregon State Police jailed an Ashland man for multiple crimes after catching him with a stolen vehicle on Williams Highway near Murphy this week. OSP reports state troopers spotted a Ford Transit cargo van near milepost 7.5 of Highway 238 on Monday evening. Troopers said they stopped the cargo van after learning that it had been recently stolen in Ashland. The driver of the vehicle -- identified by OSP as "31-year-old Thomas Harley Ray Epperson" -- was placed into custody. His passenger was identified as a 33-year-old Ashland woman. She was detained, but not arrested. Epperson was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for two counts of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon. He was held without bail. The registered owner of the recovered cargo van responded to the scene to retrieve his vehicle. Another vehicle -- a Dodge Ram 1500 -- was also listed as stolen by the suspect, but no other information was provided by OSP.

Posted on 7/17/24 6:32AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Woman for Aggressive Behavior at Morrison Centennial Park

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for her aggressive behavior at a city park this week. The Police Department reports officers were alerted to the incident at Morrison Centennial Park on Rogue River Highway on Monday. Police said a 35-year-old female subject shouted at people in the park and -- at one point -- she grabbed a large stick and waved it around at people. She was pointing the stick at people and shouting random statements when officers arrived on scene. According to the report, the woman's behavior caused public alarm that prompted multiple 9-1-1 calls. However, no was hurt during the incident. The suspect was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct. She was also trespassed from Morrison Park for 30 days.

Posted on 7/17/24 6:30AM by Sam Marsh

GPPD Encountering Growing Trend of Trespassed Campers Not Leaving Parks

The Grants Pass Police Department has been encountering a growing trend of people camping in city parks even after they have been trespassed. One of the most recent examples of this trend happened on Monday when GPPD officers contacted a 50-year-old woman living in a tent at Lawnridge Park in the northwest part of the city. According to the report, the female subject had threatened to kill a man and his son. No other information was available on this incident. The suspect was found to have been trespassed from the park for 30 days on July 2nd, but she was still there this week. She was placed into custody for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail.

Posted on 7/17/24 6:29AM by Sam Marsh

Commissioners' Meeting Agenda Contains only Corrections Proclamation

The short-handed Josephine County Board of Commissioners should make quick work of a business meeting with a very light agenda this morning. Commissioner Dan DeYoung abruptly resigned from the Board this week after a Josephine County investigation into alleged sexual harassment. Today's meeting agenda includes only one action item: a proclamation naming July 21st-27th as "Probation, Parole and Community Supervision Week." During Requests and Comments from Citizens, members of the public are given 3 minutes to address the Board on virtually any topic related to Josephine County. Today's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

Posted on 7/17/24 6:18AM by Sam Marsh

Local Library Foundation Hosting Community Meetings for Design of Downtown Facility

The Josephine Community Library Foundation is inviting the public to attend one of three upcoming meetings to offer feedback on design concepts for a future library in downtown Grants Pass. Library leaders and architects from ZCS Engineering & Architecture will present design concepts and answer questions about the proposed features of the new library. The feedback provided by attendees will help inform decisions on the final concept for the new library in the downtown area. The first meeting is set for Saturday at noon at Milas Moments Studios, 613 SE 6th Street. It was moved from Weekend Beer Company due to the hot weather. The next meeting will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 25th, at the Fruitdale Grange, 1440 Parkdale Drive, and the third meeting will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 27th, at the Redwood Grange, 1830 Redwood Avenue. In 2023, the library foundation purchased the block between 6th and 7th streets and J and K streets for a new library as part of its support for new and improved facilities for Josephine Community Library and the community. Thanks to the efforts of library leaders, individual and foundation donors, and grant funders, the community raised more than $1.9 million in private contributions to purchase the property. For more information about this project, visit "jclfoundation.org."

Posted on 7/17/24 6:16AM by Sam Marsh

ODF Schedules Three Virtual Public Hearings for New Statewide Wildfire Map Rules

The Oregon Department of Forestry has scheduled three virtual public hearings regarding rules for the statewide wildfire hazard map. According to ODF, the hearings will gather feedback on a rules package that establishes the contested case appeals process, designates properties in wildfire hazard zones and identifies the wildland-urban interface. These rules were required by Senate Bill 762 in 2021 and Senate Bill 80 in 2023. The Board of Forestry approved the public hearing process for the proposed rule package during their June 5th meeting. The department consulted a Rulemaking Advisory Committee representing a wide variety of stakeholder interests while drafting the proposed rules. The rules will be used by Oregon State University to address irrigated agriculture as a mitigating factor to assessing wildfire hazards in the statewide wildfire map, which includes assigning one of three hazard zones to individual properties. The rules also establish the process to appeal assignment of a hazard classification. Public comment can be made at any of the virtual meetings slated for July 31st at 10 a.m., July 31st at 2 p.m. and August 1st at 6 p.m.. Comments can also be sent to "maprules@odf.oregon" until August 15th. Please clarify which rule your comments pertain to in your e-mail.

Posted on 7/17/24 6:14AM by Sam Marsh

Three Rivers School District Reminding Local Families about Summer Meals Program

The Three Rivers School District wants to remind families about their Summer Meals Program that is open to all children ages 1-18. This program is available to every family regardless of financial need, so everyone is welcome to participate. The Summer Meals Program is not based on financial need, allowing any family to join. By participating, you help support the community and ensure the program's stability. There's no commitment or registration required. Families can join any day at any site. It's a fun and free activity for little ones to enjoy a meal out at no cost to parents or caregivers. At Fruitdale Elementary School, breakfast is served from 8:30-9:30 a.m. and lunch is served from 10:30-11 a.m.. At Harbeck Village, lunch is served from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.. At Jubilee Park in Cave Junction, breakfast and lunch are served from 11:30 a.m. to noon. At Wildlife Images near Merlin, lunch is served from 11:30 a.m. to noon. For more information, please call (541)-476-4183, Extension 2800.

Posted on 7/17/24 6:11AM by Sam Marsh

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