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Rum Creek Fire
Unit Information
Incident Contacts
- Public InformationEmail:2022.rumcreek@firenet.govPhone:541-625-0849Hours:10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- BLM Grants PassPhone:541-471-6500
Rum Creek Fire Morning Update for August 22, 2022
Rum Creek Fire
Publication Type: News 08/22/2022
Fire crews securing access to Rum Creek FireGRANTS PASS, Ore. – Aviation resources worked steadily throughout the day Sunday, dropping water and retardant to slow the spread of the Rum Creek Fire while ground resources developed safe routes to the Rum Creek Fire perimeter.
Firefighter and public safety are always the top priority on a wildfire. Although the Rum Creek Fire started on a ridgetop, the steep topography allows burning debris to potentially roll downhill, spreading fire as it goes, with the possibility of spotting and torching.
Additional resources have been ordered and are arriving steadily. This morning, 266 personnel were assigned to the fire, including one hotshot crew, 10 hand crews and one dozer.Among the natural resources threatened by the fire is an endemic stand of Port‐Orford‐cedar, which is unique to southwest Oregon and northwest California. Historically, native Karok people of northwest California used Port‐Orford‐cedar for a variety of purposes.
Three hand crews, three engines and three water tenders will continue mop‐up today on the Hog Creek Fire, which is holding at 32 acres and is 30 percent contained. Mop‐up is the process of extinguishing residual fire and hot spots to make sure it doesn't continue to spread outside of an established containment area.
Weather: Slightly cooler today, highs in the 80s, humidity in the 30s and light winds with gusts up to 12 miles per hour.
Safety: Be alert while driving and watch for increased fire traffic in Merlin and Rand, especially in the morning and evening as resources head into and out of the fire closure areas at shift changes.
A river ranger is stationed above Rainie Falls to direct boating traffic. Boaters may be asked to pull over while helicopters dip water from the pool.
Closures: Medford BLM has closed the Rainie Falls Trail until further notice. For more information about closures and fire restrictions, go to https://www.blm.gov/programs/public‐safety‐and‐fire/fire‐and‐ aviation/regional‐info/oregon‐washington/fire‐restrictions
Other fires: For information about other fires in the Lightning Gulch Complex, go to Southwest Oregon Department of Forestry’s website www.swofire.com or https://www.facebook.com/ODFSouthwest.