Oregon Officials Enact Emergency Response to Wildfire

The East Evans Creek fire began on July 10 along East Evans Creek Road in Jackson County and was sparked by a car crashing into a power pole.

Juliette Fairley

Published: 7/17/2026, 5:52:27 PM EDT

Oregon Officials Enact Emergency Response to Wildfire — Firefighting personnel stand near a fire truck in Oregon in a file photo. (Payton Bruni/AFP via Getty Images)

A city and county in Oregon have activated their emergency response protocols in response to a wildfire burning in southwestern Oregon.

The East Evans Creek fire, which began on July 10 along East Evans Creek Road in Jackson County, was sparked by a car crashing into a power pole.

The accident brought down a live power line, which ignited adjacent dry grass and vegetation.

In addition to Jackson County, Shady Cove became an area of concern when the fire expanded towards the Highway 62 corridor.

Highway 62 runs through Shady Cove’s center.

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office issued a level 2 evacuation notice on July 16 along East Evans Creek Road.

“Residents in this area must be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice and should act early if they require extra time to leave,” the alert states. “Because fire conditions can change rapidly, this may be the only warning provided; anyone who feels they are in immediate danger should leave right away.”

As of July 17, the East Evans Creek Fire had expanded to 13,089 acres, according to the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Southwest District.

The fire’s expansion is fueled by high summer temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds that gain momentum in the afternoon.

The Shady Cove Emergency Council called a meeting on July 15 to declare a state of emergency relating to the fire.

The resolution authorized presiding official Lena Richardson, former Shady Cove mayor, to coordinate response and recovery efforts, request assistance, and allocate emergency funds.

The council unanimously approved the emergency resolution during the meeting.

While Richardson was removed as mayor in a local recall election on July 7, she remains the presiding official over the city's emergency response because the county clerk has yet to officially certify the election results.

Once the certification happens, the process to fill the vacancy will begin.

On July 10, Gov. Tina Kotek invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act for the East Evans Creek Road Fire while the Jackson County Fire Defense Board chief requested assistance with life, safety, and structural fire protection.

"On the southwestern edge of the fire, Oregon State Fire Marshal crews are working directly around structures to clear overgrown brush and build defensible space," the Oregon State Fire Marshal said in a July 15 statement. "Crews are also installing temporary water supply tanks to ensure water tenders and structural engines have quick access to water during active suppression efforts."

The emergency order permits statewide structural firefighting task forces to intervene and defend homes.