According to the latest information from the Oregon Department of Forestry as of late Friday evening, the lightning caused Rum Fire, first reported Wednesday August 17th, five miles northwest of Galice, OR, along the south banks of the Lower Rogue River.
As of very late Friday evening, the Rum Creek Fire is now reported on the east side of the Rogue River, moving south and east. Officials are assessing current and potential future impacts to private lands and residences east of the river.
The blaze, burning now for ten days, has now consumed more than 1,256 acres and initiated Level 3 – GO NOW evacuations the from Josephine County Sheriff just after 7:30pm Friday evening from South and West of the Rogue River and North of Bear Camp Road, including Rand, Galice, and Galice Creek Road.
The Northwest Incident Management Team reports that helicopters have dropped more than a half‐million gallons of water on the Rum Creek Fire and fixed‐wing aircraft have dropped a quarter‐million gallons of retardant.
579 Firefighter personnel continue attempts to prevent the fire from crossing the south banks of the Lower Rogue River and contain the perimeter between the Big Windy burn scar to the west, the Rogue River to the north, and Galice Road to the east.
On Thursday, August 18th, shortly after 4:00pm, dispatchers received information regarding a wildland firefighter that 25 year old wildland firefighter Logan Taylor of Talent had been killed after being struck by a tree on the Rum Creek Fire north of Galice.
