Local Excessive Heat Warning Contributed to Six Independence Day Fires
It was a toasty Independence Day throughout the Rogue Valley, with both Medford and Grants Pass reaching 105 degrees.
Medford set a new high temperature record for July 4th, while Grants Pass missed it by one degree. It was 106 degrees here on July 4, 2015.
Both cities are expected to break high temperature records over the next few days as the Excessive Heat Warning continues through Monday night. The predicted high temperature in Grants Pass is 110 today, 112 on Saturday, 109 on Sunday and 108 on Monday. The thermometer is expected to remain above 100 degrees until at least next Thursday and overnight lows in the 60s will provide little relief.
Firefighters were busy extinguishing vegetation fires throughout Josephine County late yesterday and last night.
The Oregon Department of Forestry reported a total of six grass fires including 1420 Lakeshore Drive in Selma, 1835 Drury Lane in Grants Pass, SW 5th Street and Rogue River Avenue in Grants Pass, 1451 Fairgrounds Road in Grants Pass, 295 Haylees Way in Hugo, 3133 Canal Avenue in Grants Pass and 1288 Willow Lane in Grants Pass.
ODF officials said at least some of the fires were caused by fireworks.
Posted on 7/5/24 6:29AM by Sam Marsh
