September 2, 2022 4:20 a.m.

Fire weather Friday will test lines on the Rum Creek Fire, burning in Josephine County.

The latest update from Northwest Incident Management Team 13 said wildland firefighters are steadily reinforcing lines with strategic firing operations where conditions allow, holding lines and also preparing for future ignitions.

Thursday, crews used tactical burning to close an unburned pocket of fuel along the southern fire edge and to proactively stop fire progression northeast of Grave Creek Bridge. Structural task forces are mopping up and monitoring a 200-foot perimeter around the community of Galice and Almeda Bar areas. Resources in this area are using thermal imaging cameras to identify hot spots near residential areas.

The update said in the coming days, firefighters aim to connect containment lines between the southwest and northwest edges of the fire, and also on the southeast to the northeast. Perimeter scouting and assessment of contingency and emergency lines to the south and east is complete and line construction has begun.

The fire has not crossed the Rogue River north of Grave Creek. To the east, it has become established in McKnabe Creek and crews are constructing lines to keep it within that watershed.

The Rum Creek Fire is approaching 16,600 acres and is 1 percent contained. 1,934 people are assigned to work on the fire.