After receiving a 911 call reporting smoke in the Galice Resort building just after 10:30am Tuesday morning June 8th, the resort staff was instructed to evacuate, management turned off the electrical systems and closed all the doors and windows in hopes of reducing the fire’s spread. Fire activity was observed in the floor as the last staff members exited the building.
As first units arrived on the scene it was determined the fire had “vented”, making its own holes in the building, allowing the fire to burn freely, now having an unlimited oxygen supply and a second alarm was immediately requested to bring additional resources. Structural crews worked on the fire while the Oregon Department of Forestry worked to mitigate any spread to the wildland.
Water supply was established using the boat ramp below the deck of the restaurant. A type 2 helicopter was requested, dropping water on the building and nearby natural vegetation, keeping the spread of fire in the wildland at about 1/10th of an acre.
The main building which holds both the store and restaurant appears to be a total loss. Fire crews and resort staff removed the rental inventory from the garage and moved the resort’s shuttle vans away from the building hoping to prevent further property loss. The semi-detached garage used for raft rentals, along with the cabins for rent on the hill above the main building remains standing.
Rural Metro Fire was assisted by 3 agencies including Grants Pass Fire-Rescue, Rogue River Fire, and Oregon Department of Forestry and more than 35 firefighters responded to the blaze.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
