KRRM - Local News

ODF Southwest Battling 22 Confirmed Fires from Monday Night Thunderstorms

The Oregon Department of Forestry responded to 53 reports of smoke and fire following thunderstorms that moved through Jackson and Josephine counties last night. Of the 53 reports, ODF said 17 were found to be duplicates -- resulting in 22 confirmed fires across its Southwest District and an additional 14 reports that are pending. Resources were engaged on these 22 incidents last night and, as a result, seven are already 100% lined and mopped up, leaving 15 active and staffed. ODF firefighters remained engaged on three major fires this morning: the Heppsie Mountain Fire off Highway 140 north of Lake Creek, which was estimated to be 50 acres; the Poole Hill Fire south of the Heppsie Mountain Fire across South Fork Little Butte Creek, which was estimated to be 3-5 acres; and the Pompadour Fire located in the hills east of Ashland, which was halted at 38 acres. Other staffed fires were estimated to be between 1/10th of an acre and 6 acres. Two reconnaissance flights launched this morning to cover all strike areas across the district. These daytime flights will provide better information on current fires and allow the agency to get eyes on pending reports, confirm duplicate reports, and provide oversight to be strategic with ordering and dispatching resources. Last night, a strike team of five engines from the ODF Southern Oregon Area arrived and were dispatched to fires. This morning, another five-engine strike team is mobilizing from the ODF Northwest Area. The district had also ordered two more 20-person hand crews, seven engines, one water tender and one bulldozer to be available where needed. A total of 266 personnel were assigned to fires today. ODF resources are continuing to work with its federal partners at the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest and Medford BLM District in response to these fires as well as local and county structural fire departments.

Posted on 7/8/25 11:26AM by Sam Marsh

Grants Pass Structure Fire Mobilized Multiple Agencies and Forced Evacuations

An early morning structure fire in NE Grants Pass yesterday mobilized multiple agencies and forced the evacuation of nearby homes. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue and Rural Metro Fire Department responded to the fire in the 1300-block of NE 9th Street on Monday at 1:38 a.m.. Arriving units found a detached carport, storage units and multiple vehicles fully-involved in flames. Crews engaged in aggressive fire suppression to stop spread of the blaze to neighboring homes and vegetation. A second alarm was sounded to summon additional resources. The Grants Pass Police Department assisted with evacuations, securing a water supply, providing information and traffic control. There was some damage to an adjacent home that was quickly mitigated. No injuries were reported and no other structures were damaged. The cause of the fire was under investigation by the Oregon State Fire Marshal and Grants Pass Fire Prevention Bureau.

Posted on 7/8/25 11:24AM by Sam Marsh

Merlin Shop Fire Redirected Units Responding to Lightning Strikes in South GP

Just as lightning was making its way into south Grants Pass last night, a structure fire in Merlin redirected multiple units to that incident. Rural Metro Fire Department and Grants Pass Fire & Rescue were dispatched to the fire at the end of Enterprise Avenue off Pleasant Valley Road on Monday at 9:30 p.m.. Arriving units found a woodworking shop fully involved with flames. Rural Metro officials said crews were able to keep the fire from spreading to a nearby recreational vehicle, propane tank and vegetation. However, it took several hours to extinguish the blaze due to the size of the building and its contents. Water supplied on site included draining a residential swimming pool. Officials said warm weather took its toll on firefighters, but there were no injuries reported. The cause of the fire was under investigation.

Posted on 7/8/25 11:23AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Incarcerated Suspect for Breaking into House on SW Side of Grants Pass

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for breaking into a house on the southwest side of Grants Pass last night. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 31-year-old Austin Lee Buell for the incident in the 3100-block of Redwood Avenue on Monday at 8:22 p.m.. Deputies said a woman called 9-1-1 to report a male subject inside her house. She said she did not know the man and he fled on foot on Redwood Avenue before turning onto Hubbard Lane and heading toward Redwood Highway. The victim followed the suspect in her vehicle while maintaining contact with dispatchers. Buell reportedly stopped near Elmer Nelson Lane and that's where he was placed into custody. No stolen items were found in his backpack. Buell was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 1st-Degree Burglary and Attempted 3rd-Degree Theft. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 7/8/25 11:22AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Corrections Client Who Surrendered on State Felony Warrant

Grants Pass Police arrested a Josephine County Community Corrections client who turned himself in on a statewide felony warrant yesterday. The Police Department reports officers were called to the Corrections Office on NW 4th Street on Monday around 3 p.m.. Police said 39-year-old Patrick Henry Hermes was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a prior conviction for Felony Assault. They said he voluntarily surrendered to his corrections officer. Hermes was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 7/8/25 11:20AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Woman on Felony Warrant Plus Drug Possession after Stop

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman on a local felony warrant and for drug possession following a weekend traffic complaint on Redwood Highway. The Police Department reports officers eventually pulled over a Lexus sedan driven by 24-year-old Lauren Marie Espey at NW 2nd and C streets at 8:50 p.m. Sunday. Police said Espey was the subject of a traffic complaint as she was driving on US Highway 199 toward Grants Pass. A fellow motorist reported that she was unable to maintain a single travel lane while repeatedly speeding up and slowing down. The caller believed she was either having a medical issue or was impaired. Upon contact with Espey, officers discovered that she was wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant for Identity Theft and 2nd-Degree Theft. She admitted that she was concealing drugs in her bra. She removed the substance which tested positive as 5.4 grams of methamphetamine. A glass pipe was also seized as evidence. Espey was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus a new charge of Meth Possession. She was being held without bail and her vehicle was towed.

Posted on 7/8/25 10:43AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Collared Man on Felony Warrant after Trespass on Railroad Property

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man on a felony warrant while investigating a weekend trespassing complaint on railroad property on the west side of the city. According to the Police Department, officers contacted and arrested 40-year-old Zachary Michael Gatten on railroad property near NW Sunview Place and Fall Run Drive on Sunday around 7:40 p.m.. Following the complaint, patrol officers spotted Gatten, contacted him and discovered that he was wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant for failing to appear in court for 1st-Degree Theft. He was also found to have a prior trespass warning on railroad property inside the city limits. Gatten was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus a new charge of 1st-Degree Criminal Trespass. His scheduled bail was set at $50,000.

Posted on 7/8/25 10:42AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Woman for Repeated Trespassing on North City Property

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for repeatedly trespassing on a property in the north part of the city. According to the Police Department, officers contacted 47-year-old Jessica Lynne Green and placed her into custody for the incident in the 1,000-block of NE 6th Street on Monday at 12:26 p.m.. Police said the property owner reported that Green had returned before she was observed leaving in a Ford sedan. Officers pulled her over right away due to illegal obstruction of windows on the vehicle. She also had no insurance on the car. Green was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. She was also cited for No Insurance and her vehicle was impounded.

Posted on 7/8/25 10:41AM by Sam Marsh

ODF & Partners Responded to 40 Reports of Fire & Smoke from Lightning Strikes

The National Weather Service underestimated the potential for thunderstorms when it predicted a slight chance on Monday. The Oregon Department of Forestry and its partner agencies responded to at least 40 reports of local fires and smoke. In a 2:15 a.m. update today, ODF reported the Heppsie Fire off Highway 140 and the Pompadour Fire east of Ashland as its largest incidents at 50 and 30 acres, respectively. The Heppsie Fire battle is complicated by steep terrain and falling trees. Crews remained engaged with the wildfire overnight and more resources have been ordered for today. Firefighters had lined 70% of the Pompadour Fire. Resources remain engaged on the blaze and continue to work toward lining the perimeter. On Monday at 8:15 p.m., ODF reported smoke and fire following lightning strikes in the 11,000-block of Upper Applegate Road, milepost 3 of Little Applegate Road, milepost 3 of Dead Indian Memorial Road, milepost 4 of Wagner Creek Road and at Grizzly Peak just north of the Oregon-California border. The Illinois Valley Fire District reported smoke investigations in the 1200-block of Deer Creek Road and 800-block of Lone Mountain Road plus vegetation fires in the 1200-block of Greenview Drive, 5500-block of West Side Road, 7400-block of Takilma Road, 5,000-block of Thompson Creek Road and on Deer Creek Road. While most of the storms came with rain, fires may continue to start from lightning strikes. Please report any sightings of smoke or fire to 9-1-1.

Posted on 7/8/25 6:47AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Man for Entering Home & Harassing Legally-Protected Woman

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for violating a court order last weekend after he unlawfully entered a downtown area home and physically harassed a woman who is legally protected from him. The Police Department reports 36-year-old Ryan Anthony Caropreso was arrested for the incident in the 600-block of SE 8th Street early Sunday morning. Police said Caropreso violated an active restraining order when he unlawfully and without permission entered the residence of the protected woman. They said he refused to listen to the woman and leave the premises. When the woman tried to walk away from him, the suspect grabbed her and pulled her toward him. Caropreso left the home and walked toward his residence on SW Greenwood Drive where he was detained. He refused to answer any questions or provide a statement, so he was placed into custody. Ryan Caropreso was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 1st-Degree Burglary, Physical Harassment and Contempt of Court-Restraining Order Violation. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 7/8/25 6:46AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Man for Striking His Mother in Moving Vehicle Last Weekend

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for hitting his mother while they were en route to the hospital last weekend. The Police Department reports officers arrested 32-year-old Kody Owen Lewis at Three Rivers Medical Center for the incident that occurred at the intersection of Union Avenue and Ringuette Street on Sunday shortly after 5 p.m.. Police said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that her son -- Lewis -- struck her in the head while she was driving. They said the victim sustained a golf ball-sized lump on her head as a result and complained of pain. She was evaluated by a physician and then released. Officers located Lewis at the hospital and he admitted to the physical altercation. Lewis was placed into custody and transported to the Josephine County Jail where he was booked for Felony 4th-Degree Domestic Assault. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 7/8/25 6:45AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Pair for Drug Possession after Walmart Shoplifting Report

Grants Pass Police arrested two people for drug possession during a weekend shoplifting caper at Walmart. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the theft complaint at the store on NE Terry Lane on Saturday afternoon. Police said 30-year-old Apolonio Fidel Mendez and 38-year-old Rachel May Lowden were inside Walmart when Mendez intentionally deprived the store of $15.56 by concealing razor blades and passing all points of sale. He also used a barcode of a lower-priced item to scan higher-priced items. Mendez and Lowden were detained by loss prevention just outside Walmart. He wouldn't listen to lawful commands, so officers forced him to the ground in a controlled manner. During a consent search, he was found with a glass pipe with residue that field tested positive as methamphetamine. In a consent search of Lowden's purse, more than 20 grams of meth was located and seized for destruction. Mendez was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Meth Possession and Petty Theft. Lowden was cited to appear in court for Meth Possession and released.

Posted on 7/8/25 6:43AM by Sam Marsh