Multiple Agencies Battled Small Wildfire Next to NB Interstate 5 in Sunny Valley
Multiple agencies battled a small wildfire next to Interstate 5 in the Sunny Valley area late yesterday.
On Monday at 3:47 p.m., the Oregon Department of Forestry, Rural Metro Fire Department, Grants Pass Fire & Rescue and the Wolf Creek Rural Fire Protection District all responded to the blaze on the northbound side of I-5 near milepost 72.
Firefighters engaged in an aggressive initial attack and began lining the fire. By 4:25 p.m., crews had stopped forward progress of the blaze and were working to construct line around it, but they were challenged by windy conditions as a Red Flag Warning was in effect. The aggressive attack continued.
In a 4:50 p.m. update, ODF reported a Type 2 helicopter was assisting with water bucket drops on the inland side of the fire. Firefighters on the ground continued to line the perimeter and extinguish hot spots.
Tall, dry grass and brush mixed with windy conditions contributed to the initial growth of the fire. The main body was caught at an estimated half-acre and a small spot fire to the south was caught at an estimated 1/10th of an acre. One lane of I-5 was closed by the Oregon Department of Transportation during the firefight.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.
Posted on 10/1/24 6:29AM by Sam Marsh
