Regional Fire Response Contains Phoenix-Area Wildfire

Published on June 09, 2025

Image (80).jpeg

A fast-moving vegetation fire that sparked Saturday afternoon (June 7) near the City of Phoenix was successfully contained thanks to a rapid, coordinated response from regional fire agencies.

The fire began in a rural area within Medford Rural Fire District 2 and quickly spread through dry fuels, prompting Level 2 and Level 1 evacuation notices for three Phoenix zones: Zones 12, 14, and 16. Fortunately, crews were able to halt forward progress of the fire at 35.3 acres, with no injuries or property damage reported.

Coordinated Regional Response

Air support was requested and approved by the Oregon State Fire Marshal early in the incident. However, aggressive ground suppression by engines, dozers, and strike teams eliminated the need to deploy aircraft. A dozer line was constructed around the fire’s perimeter, and crews remained on scene into the evening hours to reinforce containment and monitor for flare-ups.

Given the fire’s location and impact across multiple jurisdictions, Unified Command was established between responding agencies. This joint structure enabled coordinated operations, resource deployment, and consistent public communication. A complete list of responding agencies is included at the bottom of this article, showcasing the extensive regional collaboration that made this successful response possible.

The Medford Fire Department, which serves District 2, led the public communication component. Evacuation notifications were coordinated with Jackson County Emergency Management, the City of Medford, and the City of Phoenix.

Cause and Seasonal Conditions

An investigation determined the fire was caused by mowing a fuel break during hot, dry conditions—a well-intentioned activity that nonetheless emphasizes the need for fire safety awareness as wildfire season begins.

This incident occurred shortly after the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Southwest Oregon District announced an increase in fire danger level from Low to Moderate (Blue), effective Saturday, June 7 at 12:01 a.m.. This change affects 1.8 million acres of forestlands across Jackson and Josephine counties, including state, private, county, city, and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands.

Fire Prevention Measures Now in Effect

With fire danger now classified as Moderate, new public use restrictions are in place to help prevent additional fire starts. Key rules include:

  • No open fires (including campfires and charcoal grills) outside of designated campgrounds.
  • Chainsaw use, metal cutting, and mowing of dry grass are prohibited between 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
  • Motorized vehicles are only allowed on improved roads, and operators must carry firefighting tools.
  • Ongoing bans remain in effect on fireworks, debris burning, exploding targets, and tracer ammunition.

For a full list of current fire restrictions and prevention tips, visit swofire.com.

Responding Agencies

  • Medford Fire Department (serving as Fire District 2)
    • City of Medford Emergency Management
  • Jackson County Sheriff’s Office
  • Jackson County Emergency Management
  • City of Phoenix Police Department
  • City of Phoenix (multiple departments)
  • Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF)
  • Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM)
  • Fire District 3
  • Fire District 5
  • Ashland Fire & Rescue
  • Jacksonville Fire Department
  • Emergency Communications of Southern Oregon (ECSO)
  • Jackson/Josephine County Fire Defense Board Chief
  • Rogue Valley Strike Team 1 (mutual aid from Josephine County), including:
    • Rogue River Fire Department
    • Applegate Fire District
    • Grants Pass Fire Department
    • Illinois Valley Fire District
    • Rural Metro Fire
Tagged as:
Back to top