Salt Creek 2024
Salt Creek has burned 4,102 acres, burning 10 miles east of Eagle Point.
Latest update
The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Incident Management Team 1 will transition the fire to a local Type 3 organization as of 7:00 a.m. Thursday July 18th. The fire is 100% lined at 4,102 acres and is 84% contained as of July 17th.
The Salt Creek Fire, located 10 miles east of Eagle Point, began on Sunday, July 7. The Oregon Department of Forestry's Incident Management Team 1 took command of the fire on July 8.
Background: The Salt Creek Fire was first reported Sunday afternoon just after 4 p.m. on July 7. Both ODF Southwest Oregon District and Lake Creek Fire District initially responded. When firefighters arrived on scene, it was estimated to be 2-5 acres and growing quickly in the hot, dry and windy conditions. Numerous resources were ordered, including engines, bulldozers, water tenders and multiple types of aircraft. The fire grew to an estimated 10 acres within the half hour, and 200 acres an hour and a half into initial attack. Six helicopters, two Large Air Tankers (LATs) and a Very Large Air Tanker (VLAT) were ordered, and numerous retardant drops helped to box in the fire by creating temporary retardant lines around the majority of the incident. By the afternoon of July 8, the fire had grown to approximately 1,500 - 2,000 acres and local crews had lined 40% of the fire.