Applegate Fire District

10/13/2026

Congratulations to three of our Applegate Fire District firefighters!!

We’re proud to recognize Taylor Tucker, Damian Fernandez-Estes, and Terry Schrek for successfully passing their Task Performance Evaluations and earning their Firefighter I Certifications!

Those yellow helmets represent a big milestone in their training — they’ve demonstrated the skills and competency needed to serve as functional firefighters and are ready to get to work!

A lot of training, hard work, and dedication goes into reaching this point. Please join us in congratulating Taylor, Damian, and Terry on this accomplishment!

10/13/2026

Vehicle Extrication on Humbug Creek Road
Today,

Applegate Fire District crews responded to an automatic crash notification in the Humbug Creek area. Initial information was limited due to the nature of the alert, but upon arrival, firefighters found a rollover crash with the occupant trapped inside the vehicle.

Recognizing the severity of the incident, the response was upgraded with an additional engine company and two Chief Officers. A Mercy Flights Inc helicopter was requested, landing at a predetermined landing zone at Station 51 in Applegate.

Using hydraulic extrication tools, crews worked quickly and efficiently to free the patient from the vehicle. Once extricated, the patient was flown by Mercy Flights to Rogue Regional Medical Center for further evaluation and care.

After patient care and transport were complete, the scene was turned over to Jackson County Sheriff Oregon for further investigation into the cause of the crash.

This incident comes on the heels of six weeks of focused vehicle extrication training conducted through our regional Tuesday Night Trainings (TNT). It is always rewarding to see training and preparation translate directly into a successful real-world response when seconds matter most.

A job well done by all responding personnel; your professionalism, teamwork, and dedication made a difference today!

10/08/2026

🪵🔥 FREE FIREWOOD ASSISTANCE — ONE-TIME COMMUNITY PROJECT -FAST TURNAROUND!

Applegate Fire District and Williams Fire District, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and community volunteers, are organizing a one-time firewood assistance project to help local households stay warm this winter.

The Forest Service has made approximately 30–50 cords of beetle-killed timber (mostly Douglas Fir) available near Applegate Lake. Rather than allowing this wood to go to waste, we're coordinating efforts to process it into firewood and deliver it to households experiencing hardship.

Who is this program intended to help?

Priority will be given to households in the Applegate and Williams areas that rely on firewood for heat and face challenges obtaining it, including:

Financial hardship or limited income

Seniors or individuals with limited mobility

Health conditions or disabilities

Other circumstances that make obtaining firewood difficult

What you need to know:

✅ Firewood and delivery are completely free.

✅ We anticipate providing approximately one dump-trailer load per selected household.

✅ Firewood will be dumped at an accessible location on the property. We cannot provide stacking or additional handling.

✅ Applications will be reviewed and prioritized based on household need, not simply the order received.

✅ This is a one-time assistance project, not an ongoing firewood delivery program.

⚠️ Firewood supplies are limited. Submitting an application does not guarantee assistance. The wood may not be fully seasoned or ready for immediate burning.

📅 INITIAL APPLICATION DEADLINE: MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2026, AT 5:00 PM

Applications received after the deadline may still be considered if firewood remains available.

APPLY ONLINE:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeQTcUb9EIZF3HH1Ieyangq-vL9JEW2pSrFGXdv1LuUvSUHfA/viewform

Applications must be submitted online. Our administrative offices will not be staffed during the initial application period, so we cannot accept applications in person or by telephone.

Please help us reach those who need it most.

If you know a neighbor, senior, or family member who could benefit from this assistance, please share this announcement. If someone has difficulty accessing the internet, consider helping them complete the application.

This is a limited opportunity to turn an available local resource into something that directly benefits our neighbors.

Applegate Fire District & Williams Fire District

Neighbors helping neighbors stay warm.

09/25/2026

UPDATE: 10:08 pm 9/24/2026

The Hinkle Gulch Fire has been fully wet-lined. Please continue to use caution and avoid the area if possible as crews remain on scene to continue with mop-up.

HAPPENING NOW: 9:00 pm 9/24/2026

Crews are on scene of a 1 acre brush fire in the 1000 block of Thompson Creek Road. Closest intersection: Hinkle Gulch Road and Thompson Creek Road

Please avoid the area and use caution for responding emergency vehicles.

09/24/2026

🔥 THANK YOU, APPLEGATE! 🔥
We are excited to share that Fire & Vine met our fundraising goal! Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, we will be able to purchase the wildland PPE our firefighters need to stay protected while serving our community.
This success would not have been possible without so many people coming together. A heartfelt thank you to our sponsors and donors for your generous support, our talented cake bakers for the amazing creations donated to the cake auction, and everyone who attended, bid, donated, and helped make the evening such a success.
A special thank you to the Friends of Applegate Fire District No. 9 for the countless hours spent planning and putting on Fire & Vine, Red Lily Winery-Applegate Valley for providing such a beautiful setting for our event, and Chef Kristen Catering for the wonderful meal.
Most of all, thank you to our community. Your continued support of Applegate Fire and our firefighters means so much to us.
Together, you helped us reach our goal—and soon, that support will be put to work protecting the firefighters who protect Applegate.

09/12/2026

09/12/2026

Today, we proudly honored the memory of those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. Twenty-five years later, we continue to remember a day that forever changed our country and reshaped the fire service.

As time passes, the importance of remembering grows even stronger. Through gatherings like today's, we ensure that the courage, sacrifice, and unity displayed in the face of tragedy are never forgotten.

We pay our deepest respects to the victims, the firefighters, law enforcement officers, EMS personnel, and all who answered the call without hesitation. Their courage and sacrifice remain a guiding example for those who continue to serve today.

A special thanks to the Medford Fire Department and Rogue Valley Manor for their outstanding coordination and support of this annual remembrance ceremony. We are grateful for your commitment to ensuring the legacy of 9/11 and the heroes of that day are never forgotten.

#911

09/09/2026

🔥 Tuesday Night Training Recap 🔥

Applegate Fire District members joined fellow firefighters from around the Rogue Valley for an evening of vehicle extrication training.

Using modern rescue techniques and specialized extrication tools, crews systematically disassembled vehicles while refining the skills that help save lives when seconds matter.

Training like this ensures our responders stay prepared for the challenges they may face on the road every day.

We appreciate the dedication of our members to join us every Tuesday night for these training events. Their sacrifice of personal time to be prepared when the need arises. Come join us and if you want to make a difference in your community, join our team! 🚒

https://applegatefd.com/join-our-team/
📧 [email protected]

Jackson County Fire District No. 5
Jackson County Fire District 3
Jackson County Fire District 4
Lake Creek Rural Fire Protection District

09/03/2026

ODF has lowered the fire danger level in Jackson and Josephine counties from High to Moderate, effective at 10 a.m. today.

The biggest change for the public is that power-driven and spark-producing equipment—including chainsaws, mowing of dry grass, w**d eaters, and cutting or grinding metal—may now be used until 1 p.m. and again after 8 p.m.

Outdoor debris burning remains prohibited, fire season remains in effect, and IFPL remains at Level II.

We agree with ODF’s decision. Given the recent and forecasted rainfall, cooler temperatures, and overall conditions, the move to Moderate makes sense.

The change in fire danger level does not require any immediate operational changes for the Fire District, so our current staffing and response posture will remain in place.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BuSPEcmbg/

𝙁𝙄𝙍𝙀 𝘿𝘼𝙉𝙂𝙀𝙍 𝘿𝙀𝘾𝙍𝙀𝘼𝙎𝙀: Fire danger decreasing to moderate, IFPL remaining at Level 2 in Jackson and Josephine counties.

Another day of rainfall and unseasonably cool temperatures has prompted a further decrease in fire danger across Jackson and Josephine counties. At 10 a.m. on September 3, 2026, the fire danger level on lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District will decrease from “high” (yellow) to “moderate” (blue). The Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) will remain at Level 2 (two).

This change affects 1.8 million acres of state, private, county, city and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) forestlands in Jackson and Josephine counties.

Continued rainfall throughout the past day, combined with unseasonably cool temperatures in the 60s, has further reduced fire danger across the district. While these conditions have allowed for a decrease to moderate fire danger, fire season remains in effect and vegetation can dry quickly once warmer, drier weather returns. The public should continue to follow all current fire prevention regulations and use caution during outdoor activities. Outdoor debris burning remains prohibited.

The primary difference between current fire prevention restrictions and the updated restrictions affects the public use of power-driven equipment, such as chainsaws, mowers, w**d eaters and more. The use of power-driven equipment, grinding, cutting of metal and other spark-emitting equipment will now be allowed until 1 p.m. and after 8 p.m. daily. Mowing green lawns is allowed at any time.

Public fire restrictions under moderate fire danger include:

• Open fires are prohibited, which includes campfires, charcoal fires, cooking fires and warming fires, except at locations deemed a designated campground. Portable cooking stoves or firepits using liquefied or bottled fuels are still allowed in areas clear of flammable vegetation.

• Chainsaws, including equipment using string or metal blades, may not be used between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. During hours outside of this time frame, this equipment may be used but requires that the operator have one shovel and one 8-ounce or larger fire extinguisher at the work site. A fire watch is also required for one hour after each use.

• Cutting, grinding and welding of metal is not allowed between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. These activities are allowed during hours outside of this time frame only if the work site is a cleared area and a charged garden hose or one 2½-pound or larger fire extinguisher is at the job site.

• The mowing of dead or dried grass with power-driven equipment is not allowed between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. This restriction does not include mowing green lawns or equipment used for the commercial culture and harvest of agricultural crops.

• Motorized vehicles, including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, are allowed only on improved roads free of flammable vegetation. One shovel and one gallon of water, or one 2½-pound or larger fire extinguisher, is required while traveling. All-terrain vehicles and motorcycles must be equipped with one 2½-pound or larger fire extinguisher.

• Possession of the following firefighting equipment is required while traveling, except on state highways, county roads and driveways: one shovel and one gallon of water or one 2½-pound or larger fire extinguisher. All-terrain vehicles and motorcycles must be equipped with one 2½-pound or larger fire extinguisher.

• Any other spark-emitting internal combustion engine use not specifically mentioned is not allowed between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. Use of any spark-emitting internal combustion engine is allowed outside of this time frame only if the work site is a cleared area and a charged garden hose or one 2½-pound or larger fire extinguisher is at the job site.

Other public fire restrictions that remain in effect include:

• No debris burning, including piles and debris burned in burn barrels.

• No fireworks on or within one eighth of a mile of ODF-protected land. Fireworks are prohibited on all BLM land.

• Exploding targets and tracer am******on, or any bullet with a pyrotechnic charge in its base, are prohibited.

• Smoking while traveling is allowed only in enclosed vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water and other specifically designated locations.

• Any electric fence controllers must be approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory or be certified by the Department of Consumer and Business Services and be installed and used in compliance with the fence controller’s instructions for fire-safe operation.

For industrial operations, under IFPL II (Two) – limited shutdown, which is entirely separate from all public fire restrictions, the following may operate after 8 p.m. and up until 1 p.m. daily:

• Power saws, except at loading sites
• Feller-bunchers with rotary head saws
• Cable yarding
• Blasting
• Welding, cutting, or grinding of metal

Fire season remains in effect, and all other restrictions continue in place. Despite the rainfall and decrease in fire danger, outdoor debris burning remains prohibited. Conditions will continue to be monitored and restrictions may change as fire conditions change.

For more information about the Oregon Department of Forestry’s fire season restrictions, please call or visit the Southwest Oregon District unit office nearest to you:

Medford Unit, 5286 Table Rock Rd., Central Point. (541) 664-3328

Grants Pass Unit, 5375 Monument Dr., Grants Pass. (541) 474-3152

Fire season information is also available online at our page, , and our website, www.swofire.com.