About a thousand people have been ordered to evacuate their homes between Grants Pass and Medford after a wildfire grew rapidly overnight near the rural community of Rogue River.

The Fielder Mountain Fire was just 5-10 acres in size Thursday afternoon, but as it spread rapidly through grass along Interstate 5, firefighters decided to launch an aggressive attack, according to updates posted by the Oregon Department of Forestry’s southwest district.

Heavy winds and steep terrain fueled the blaze’s continued growth despite the deployment of seven firefighting helicopters, four airplanes and ground crews. The fire had grown to roughly 550 acres by Friday morning.

While Interstate 5 remains open, officials said travelers should expect delays, especially northbound. A number of local roads in the area of the fire have been closed.

Though the official cause of the fire is still under investigation, “Initial reports indicated tires on a semi-truck were on fire and flames had spread to nearby vegetation,” the Oregon Department of Forestry said.

In addition to the mandatory “go now” evacuations, which are mostly in the city of Rogue River and areas just west of it, another 2,000 people in Jackson and Josephine counties are under “be ready” or “be set” evacuation status.

Understanding Evacuations: Be Ready. Be Set. Go Now!

The exact boundaries of evacuation zones can shift quickly and are being updated online through the Genasys mapping system.

North Middle School in Grants Pass is taking in people and pets seeking shelter, and the Jackson County Expo Fairgrounds in Central Point can shelter livestock, according to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2026/08/14/fielder-mountain-fire-wildfire-oregon-southern-josephine/