\u201cFire activity remains most active at the head of the fire, where crews are responding to multiple spot fires southeast in the direction of Sterling Creek,\u201d the post said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAircraft remain heavily engaged throughout the incident. Two additional large air tankers (LATs), accompanied by a lead plane, are joining the existing aviation response. They will work alongside the air tankers and helicopters already assigned to the fire, utilizing both retardant drops and water bucket drops to support firefighters on the ground.<\/p>\n
\u201cMultiple hand crews, dozers, engines, and water tenders continue strengthening control lines and working to check the fire\u2019s spread in challenging terrain,\u201d ODF-SW said.<\/p>\n
5:54 p.m.: The Jackson County Sheriff\u2019s Office has upgraded Zone JAC-436 from LEVEL 2: BE READY to LEVEL 3: GO NOW for the Buncom area outside Ruch.<\/p>\n
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The fire, which sparked before 1 p.m. in the 5700 block of Sterling Creek Road, is estimated at 115 acres.<\/p>\n Sheriff\u2019s deputies are in the area giving door-to-door notifications. Level 3 means residents should leave immediately, a post<\/a> said.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is extreme danger in the area,\u201d the sheriff\u2019s office said. \u201cIt is unsafe to stay and threatens the safety of you, your loved ones and emergency responders.\u201d<\/p>\n The sheriff\u2019s office has also issued new LEVEL 1: BE READY to evacuate notices for Zones JAC-434 and JAC-437. JAC-434 is south of Little Applegate Road, east of Upper Applegate Road to the Boaz Gulch area.<\/p>\n These are the current evacuation levels as of 6 p.m.:<\/p>\n Level 3 \u2013 Go \u2013 Evacuation Order Level 2 \u2013 Set \u2013 Evacuation Warning Level 1 \u2013 Ready Do you Know Your Zone? Visit Genasys Protect https:\/\/protect.genasys.com\/<\/a> to find your zone<\/p>\n 5:26 p.m.: The Jackson County Sheriff\u2019s Office has upgraded Zone JAC-436 from LEVEL 1: BE READY to LEVEL 2: BE SET to evacuate in the area of Buncom outside Ruch, a post<\/a> Thursday evening said.<\/p>\n Level 2 means there is significant danger in the area. Be prepared to leave at a moment\u2019s notice.<\/p>\n Roadblocks are set up at Buncom and the intersections of Poorman Creek Road and Sterling Creek Road, and Bishop Creek Road and Highway 238, the post said. The sheriff\u2019s office urged people to avoid the area while firefighters work.<\/p>\n All other evacuation zones remain in place, the post said. This includes:<\/p>\n Level 2: Be Set: JAC-428 and JAC-436<\/p>\n Level 1: Be Ready: JAC-421, JAC-422, JAC-423, JAC-427, JAC-429 and JAC-438<\/p>\n For information on firefighting efforts, go to ODF Southwest Oregon District https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ODFSouthwest\/<\/a><\/p>\n For more information on the Evacuation Levels go to: https:\/\/wildfire.oregon.gov\/Pages\/evacuations.aspx<\/a><\/p>\n Do you Know Your Zone? Visit Genasys Protect https:\/\/protect.genasys.com\/<\/a> to find your zone<\/p>\n 4:45 p.m.: Ordered resources continue arriving to support suppression efforts on the Woodrat Fire burning southeast of Ruch as firefighters build on the progress made throughout the afternoon, the Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest District says.<\/p>\n \u201cDespite hot temperatures, steep terrain, hazardous snags, and dense timber, crews continue making good progress while working aggressively to limit the fire\u2019s growth. The fire is now estimated at 130 to 150 acres,\u201d a late Thursday afternoon post<\/a> said.<\/p>\n Ground and aviation resources remain actively engaged across the incident, ODF-SW said, with additional resources arriving to support operations through Thursday evening.<\/p>\n The fire was first reported as a 5-acre vegetation blaze shortly before 1 p.m. in the 5700 block of Sterling Creek Road. A cause for the fire has not been announced.<\/p>\n Evacuation levels<\/p>\n The highest evacuation level issued by the Jackson County Sheriff\u2019s Office is a LEVEL 2: BE SET evacuation notice for Zone JAC-428 in the area of Woodrat Mountain Road and Sterling Creek Road.<\/p>\n Level 2 means there is significant danger in the area \u2014 be prepared to leave at a moment\u2019s notice.<\/p>\n The sheriff\u2019s office has issued LEVEL 1: BE READY notices for zones JAC-422, JAC-423, JAC-429, JAC-436, JAC-438, JAC-241 and JAC-247 in the area of Woodrat Mountain Road and Sterling Creek Road. <\/p>\n Visit Genasys Protect https:\/\/protect.genasys.com\/<\/a> to find your zone.<\/p>\n 4:07 p.m.: The Woodrat Fire southeast of Ruch is estimated at 115 acres, and crews are making progress against the blaze, the Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest District says.<\/p>\n \u201cFirefighters continue making good progress despite very hot temperatures and challenging conditions,\u201d a Thursday afternoon post<\/a> said. \u201cGround crews and aircraft remain actively engaged in suppression efforts, working together to limit fire growth. Additional resources have been ordered for tonight and tomorrow to ensure firefighters can continue building on today\u2019s progress through the operational period.\u201d<\/p>\n ODF-SW urged people to avoid the area and watch for emergency vehicles responding to the incident.<\/p>\n One hundred acres is generally the size of 75 football fields with end zones.<\/p>\n Horse evacuations<\/p>\n Horses under Level 2 evacuation notices may be taken to the Jackson County Expo, officials said in a post<\/a> Thursday. <\/p>\n For livestock sheltering assistance, call 541\u2011776\u20117206, per Ready Jackson.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you are bringing horses to the Jackson County Expo, please follow these directions:<\/p>\n \u201cEnter through Gate J at the Southern Oregon RV Park and follow the road around to the back of the grounds to the Barker Barn. We have horse stalls available.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease call when you arrive, 541-864-0546 as we will have paperwork for you to complete\u201d<\/p>\n 3:22 p.m.: The fire is now at between 100 and 120 acres, per Incident Command, according to the WatchDuty app<\/a>.<\/p>\n 2:38 p.m.: A LEVEL 2: BE SET evacuation notice has been issued for Zone JAC-428 in the area of Woodrat Mountain Road and Sterling Creek Road outside Ruch, the Jackson County Sheriff\u2019s Office says.<\/p>\n Level 2 means there is significant danger in the area \u2014 be prepared to leave at a moment\u2019s notice.<\/p>\n The sheriff\u2019s office says new LEVEL 1: BE READY notices have been issued for zones JAC-422, JAC-423, JAC-429, JAC-436, JAC-438 in the area of Woodrat Mountain Road and Sterling Creek Road. <\/p>\n The LEVEL 1: BE READY to evacuate for Zones JAC-421 and JAC-427 remains in effect.<\/p>\n 2:06. p.m.: A 2nd alarm response has been requested by Incident Command, according to the WatchDuty app<\/a>.<\/p>\n The fire is estimated at between 50 and 60 acres, according to Air Attack on radio, per WatchDuty. The fire is mapped in the 5700 block of Sterling Creek Road, southeast of Ruch.<\/p>\n 1:27 p.m.: The Jackson County Sheriff\u2019s Office has issued Level 1: BE READY evacuation notices for Zones JAC-421 and JAC-427 in the area east of Woodrat Mountain Road and Sterling Creek Road outside Ruch.<\/p>\n For information on firefighting efforts go to ODF Southwest Oregon District https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ODFSouthwest\/<\/a><\/p>\n For more information on the Evacuation Levels go to: https:\/\/wildfire.oregon.gov\/Pages\/evacuations.aspx<\/a><\/p>\n Do you Know Your Zone? Visit Genasys Protect https:\/\/protect.genasys.com\/<\/a> to find your zone.<\/p>\n 12:55 p.m. update: The fire is estimated at between 20 and 30 acres. Additional air support has been requested, and the fire is being identified at the \u201cWoodrat Fire.\u201d<\/p>\n See previous coverage below<\/p>\n
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JAC-436<\/p>\n
JAC-428<\/p>\n
JAC-421, JAC-422, JAC-423, JAC-427, JAC-429, JAC-434, JAC-437, JAC-438<\/p>\n