The combination of continued high temperatures, low humidities and dry fuels produced active fire behavior across large portions of the Taylor Creek Fire Saturday.
The Taylor Creek fire is the largest fire in the Garner Comlex northeast of Grants Pass.
Fire crews used a combination of aircraft, line construction and holding operations to keep the fire in check.
Crews reinforced alternate containment lines on the eastern flank of the fire where it passed over primary lines.
Improved air quality allowed fire managers to fly numerous helicopter missions dropping water to cool hot spots.
Saturday evening, structure suppression and wildland forces worked together to construct and reinforce containment lines to halt the fire’s forward progress.
Several task forces from the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s office patrolled the fire’s perimeter, supporting the wildland crews operations, providing water sources, and protecting structures if needed.
On the northern flank of the fire, crews will construct new dozer lines that will allow them to use the Rogue River as part of the containment line.
The historic heat wave hitting the region is expected to continue until Monday when temperatures should begin to moderate. The forecasted weather will continue to promote active fire behavior which will challenge the fire crews.
Actively burning fire will continue to be visible to local residents.
Mop up operations are in full swing on the Grave Creek Fire on the eastern side of the Garner Complex. Crews have mopped up 150 feet in from the fire’s edge. Most perimeter control lines have held for several days, allowing fire managers to focus more resources on the Taylor Fire. Fire crews burned out a small pocket of fuel to complete a black line on the fire’s southern edge. The Josephine County Sheriff on Thursday afternoon extended the mandatory evacuation areas to a level 3 (GO!) between the eastern flank of the fire and the Rogue River.