East Evans Creek Fire Surpasses 13,000 Acres Near Medford — 1,650 Personnel on the Line

The East Evans Creek Fire, burning approximately 14 miles northeast of Rogue River in Jackson County, has grown to more than 13,000 acres and remains largely uncontained, with fire crews working around the clock to protect communities along the Rogue Valley corridor.

Fire Status

As of the morning of July 18, 2026, the East Evans Creek Fire had reached approximately 8% containment — up 3 percentage points from the previous day — according to the Oregon Department of Forestry. More than 1,650 personnel are assigned to the fire, with roughly 500 on the fireline overnight Friday into Saturday.

The fire ignited earlier in July under hot, dry, and windy conditions and quickly spread through chaparral and mixed conifer fuels east of the Rogue River valley. It has become one of the largest and most resource-intensive fires burning in Oregon this season.

Community Impacts

The fire has prompted evacuation levels across portions of Jackson County, and the nearby community of Shady Cove has been asked to minimize water use to preserve supply for fire suppression operations. Community meetings have been held in Shady Cove to brief residents on fire behavior, containment strategies, and evacuation planning.

Fire managers say the primary challenge is steep, rugged terrain that limits direct attack opportunities and requires crews to build indirect containment lines in advance of anticipated fire spread.

Air and Aviation Resources

Air tankers and helicopters are actively supporting ground operations on the East Evans Creek Fire. With the Northwest Geographic Area at Preparedness Level 5, competition for aviation assets is intense, requiring careful coordination through the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center in Portland.

Fire Weather Concerns

Hot, dry conditions are forecast to persist across southern Oregon through the weekend, with low relative humidity and occasional wind gusts complicating suppression efforts. Fire managers say that any significant wind event could cause rapid fire growth and push the fire toward populated areas in the valley.

What’s Next

Firefighters are working to establish and hold containment lines on the fire’s perimeter while structure protection resources remain positioned in threatened areas. The Oregon Department of Forestry and U.S. Forest Service are jointly managing the fire under a unified command structure.