July 16, 2024 3:50 a.m.

Crews with the Douglas Forest Protective Association and other agencies dealt with a fire approximately one mile north of the Myrtle Creek exit on Interstate 5 on Sunday.

DFPA Public Information Officer Rachel Pope said just before 5:15 p.m. the Riddle Fire Department, Myrtle Creek Fire Department, and the Tri-City Fire Department, along with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police and Oregon Department of Transportation responded to a reported smoke column near mile marker 107 northbound on the freeway.

Pope said once on the scene, firefighters tackled a quickly moving, estimated 1-acre fire in grass, brush and blackberry vines near an underdeveloped campsite under Trestle Bridge. After tackling extensive suppression work in 6-10-foot-tall blackberry vines, the fire was extinguished and mopped up.

Monday morning at approximately 8:30 a.m. firefighters from DFPA and Myrtle Creek Fire Department responded to another smoke investigation report near mile marker 107, northbound, on Interstate 5. Pope said on arrival at the scene, residual heat was found in the interior of the current fire area, with zero threat of spreading outside of the established control lines. The heat source was quickly extinguished. DFPA crews remained on the scene to continue mopping up the area.