The Salt Creek Fire burning 10 miles east of Eagle Point grew by about 300 acres in the last 24 hours to over 3,650 acres, and fire crews have the blaze about 7% contained, according to a Wednesday morning update from Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team 1.

Roughly 80% of the fire has been lined, according to the update, which is posted to the fire’s official Facebook page.

Five hundred and fifty-five personnel are working the fire on Wednesday’s day shift, the update said. Resources include “20 20-person crews, 21 engines, 12 bulldozers, 13 water tenders,” the update said. “A Rogue Valley Task Force made up of local resources is also available if needed.”

Firefighters will once again toil amid wind and high heat, with temperatures expected to climb over 100 degrees, conditions likely to increase fire activity, the update said.

“That’s some pretty extreme heat to be fighting fire in,” Kyle Gibbons, ODF IMT 1’s operations section chief, said in a video posted to the Salt Creek Fire 2024 Facebook page.

The southeast corner, which Gibbons called the “problem area of the fire at the moment,” will be firefighters’ focus for Wednesday as crews work to establish both direct and indirect lines, he said in the video.

His team doesn’t have the fire “totally wrapped up yet, but making progress every day,” Gibbons said.

The fire broke out shortly after 4 p.m. Sunday, and its cause is under investigation. As of Wednesday, the fire’s estimated cost is $1.6 million.

ODF IMT1 took command of the fire on Monday to allow ODF Southwest Oregon District crews to focus on new fire starts, according to an earlier release from the agency.

Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and Jackson County Emergency Management have issued an “Evacuation Level 1: ‘Be ready'” notice for Zones JAC-316, JAC-317, JAC-319 and JAC-321, ODF said Sunday.

The zones are north of Highway 140, approximately 12 miles east of Eagle Point in the Lake Creek area, east of Salt Creek Road, south and west of Fish Lake Road, including the Willow Lake area, the post said.

On Tuesday, Jackson County Emergency Management added evacuation zone JAC-325-A, largely located southwest of Esmond Mountain and bordering on the south at Highway 140.

Structural firefighters are on hand to protect homes in these zones, the Wednesday morning update said.

More info on evacuation zones can be found at Genasys Protect. 

Salt Creek Road and Wasson Canyon Road are closed at Highway 140, ODF said, and Double Day Road is closed off at Butte Falls Highway. Highway 140 and Butte Falls Highway remain open, but officials urge residents to stay clear of crews working in the fire zone.

The fire danger level in the Southwest Oregon District switched over to “extreme” (red) on Tuesday.

The Shelly Fire in the Klamath National Forest in Northern California was listed at 8,285 acres Wednesday and is 0% contained, according to the Inciweb website.

This is a developing story.