NEWS

Photos: Wildfires do damage, prompt evacuations in Southern Oregon

Chris Pietsch Damon Arthur
Redding Record Searchlight
The Sun rises Sept. 10, 2020 over a makeshift staging area for firefighters setup at the Expo Center in Central Point, Ore. Firefighters are deploying to at least two fires in the area, the Almeda fire running from Ashland to Phoenix and the Obenchain fire near Eagle Point.
The Sun rises Sept. 10, 2020 over a makeshift staging area for firefighters setup at the Expo Center in Central Point, Ore. Firefighters are deploying to at least two fires in the area, the Almeda fire running from Ashland to Phoenix and the Obenchain fire near Eagle Point.
Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard
The Sun rises Sept. 10, 2020 over a makeshift staging area for firefighters setup at the Expo Center in Central Point, Ore. Firefighters are deploying to at least two fires in the area, the Almeda fire running from Ashland to Phoenix and the Obenchain fire near Eagle Point.
The Sun rises Sept. 10, 2020 over a makeshift staging area for firefighters setup at the Expo Center in Central Point, Ore. Firefighters are deploying to at least two fires in the area, the Almeda fire running from Ashland to Phoenix and the Obenchain fire near Eagle Point.
Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard
Fighter David Tackett, left, and Lt. Ben Nehf with Josephine County Rural Metro Fire take a look at a burned out restaurant in Phoenix, Ore. Sept. 9, 2020 after fire swept through the area.
Fighter David Tackett, left, and Lt. Ben Nehf with Josephine County Rural Metro Fire take a look at a burned out restaurant in Phoenix, Ore. Sept. 9, 2020 after fire swept through the area.
Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard
Scorched metal guardrails lay along Interstate 5 near Talent, Ore. Sept. 9, 2020 after a wildfire swept though the area burning away the wooden posts supporting them.
Scorched metal guardrails lay along Interstate 5 near Talent, Ore. Sept. 9, 2020 after a wildfire swept though the area burning away the wooden posts supporting them.
Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard
Oregon Department of Transportation workers block Highway 99 to traffic south of Ashland, Ore. as a firetruck rolls down the road at left Sept. 9, 2020 after a wildfire swept though the area.
Oregon Department of Transportation workers block Highway 99 to traffic south of Ashland, Ore. as a firetruck rolls down the road at left Sept. 9, 2020 after a wildfire swept though the area.
Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard
Traffic backs up in Interstate 5 as fighters battle a spot fire along the freeway in Central Point, Ore. Sept. 9, 2020.
Traffic backs up in Interstate 5 as fighters battle a spot fire along the freeway in Central Point, Ore. Sept. 9, 2020.
Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard
Police officers block an overpass in Central Point, Ore. Sept. 9, 2020 as firefighters battle the flames in the distance.
Police officers block an overpass in Central Point, Ore. Sept. 9, 2020 as firefighters battle the flames in the distance.
Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard
A helicopter dips water from ponds behind the Expo Center in Central Point, Ore. Sept. 9, 2020 as firefighters work to douse a nearby spot fire. The nearby Expo Center is also being used as a staging area for firefighters battling the many fires in the area.
A helicopter dips water from ponds behind the Expo Center in Central Point, Ore. Sept. 9, 2020 as firefighters work to douse a nearby spot fire. The nearby Expo Center is also being used as a staging area for firefighters battling the many fires in the area.
Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard
Fighter David Tackett, with Josephine County Rural Metro Fire, takes a look at a burned out restaurant in Phoenix, Ore. Sept. 9, 2020 after fire swept through the area.
Fighter David Tackett, with Josephine County Rural Metro Fire, takes a look at a burned out restaurant in Phoenix, Ore. Sept. 9, 2020 after fire swept through the area.
Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard
Public safety officers stop visitors along a river path leading to a neighborhood in Phoenix, Ore. Sept. 9, 2020 after fire swept through the area.
Public safety officers stop visitors along a river path leading to a neighborhood in Phoenix, Ore. Sept. 9, 2020 after fire swept through the area.
Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard
Battalion Chief Marshall Rasor with Ashland Fire and Rescue coordinates resources from the parking lot of a hotel along Interstate 5 in Ashland, Ore. as firefighters mop up Sept. 9, 2020 after a fire swept though the area.
Battalion Chief Marshall Rasor with Ashland Fire and Rescue coordinates resources from the parking lot of a hotel along Interstate 5 in Ashland, Ore. as firefighters mop up Sept. 9, 2020 after a fire swept though the area.
Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard
Burned out vehicles and leveled homes are all that remain of Bear Lake Estates in Phoenix, Ore. Sept. 9, 2020 after a wildfire swept though the area.
Burned out vehicles and leveled homes are all that remain of Bear Lake Estates in Phoenix, Ore. Sept. 9, 2020 after a wildfire swept though the area.
Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard
Burned out vehicles and leveled homes are all that remain of Bear Lake Estates in Phoenix, Ore. Sept. 9, 2020 after a wildfire swept though the area.
Burned out vehicles and leveled homes are all that remain of Bear Lake Estates in Phoenix, Ore. Sept. 9, 2020 after a wildfire swept though the area.
Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard
Only a yard statue of St. Francis of Assisi survived a fire in Phoenix on Sept. 9, 2020 after a wildfire swept though the area. Less affluent, smaller towns, such as Phoenix and Talent, had less advance warning or the Almeda Fire than neighboring, more affluent Ashland.
Only a yard statue of St. Francis of Assisi survived a fire in Phoenix on Sept. 9, 2020 after a wildfire swept though the area. Less affluent, smaller towns, such as Phoenix and Talent, had less advance warning or the Almeda Fire than neighboring, more affluent Ashland.
Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard
Visitors take in the scene of devastation Sept. 9, 2020 after fire swept through a neighborhood in Phoenix, Ore.
Visitors take in the scene of devastation Sept. 9, 2020 after fire swept through a neighborhood in Phoenix, Ore.
Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard
A giant plume of smoke rises over the mountains east of Phoenix, Ore. as seen from Interstate 5 Sept. 9, 2020 as fires continue to burn in the area.
A giant plume of smoke rises over the mountains east of Phoenix, Ore. as seen from Interstate 5 Sept. 9, 2020 as fires continue to burn in the area.
Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard
Judy Jones, 74, of Phoenix, Oregon stands near a burned-out building next door to the mobile home park where she lived. Every home in her park was destroyed Tuesday by the Almeda Fire, including Jones'.
Judy Jones, 74, of Phoenix, Oregon stands near a burned-out building next door to the mobile home park where she lived. Every home in her park was destroyed Tuesday by the Almeda Fire, including Jones'.
Damon Arthur/Record Searchlight
Yard ornaments and debris are all that is left on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020 at homes in Bear Creek Estates near Medford, Oregon after the Almeda Drive Fire struck.
Yard ornaments and debris are all that is left on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020 at homes in Bear Creek Estates near Medford, Oregon after the Almeda Drive Fire struck.
Damon Arthur/Record Searchlight
This neighborhood south of Medford, Oregon was leveled Tuesday night, Sept. 8, 2020 by the Almeda Fire.
This neighborhood south of Medford, Oregon was leveled Tuesday night, Sept. 8, 2020 by the Almeda Fire.
Damon Arthur/Record Searchlight
Doug and Laura McHaney, whose house was badly damaged in the 2018 Carr Fire in Redding, California, had their home burn down in Ashland, Oregon on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020.
Doug and Laura McHaney, whose house was badly damaged in the 2018 Carr Fire in Redding, California, had their home burn down in Ashland, Oregon on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020.
Damon Arthur/Record Searchlight
These cars were torched Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020 as the Almeda Fire raced through a neighborhood south of Medford, Oregon.
These cars were torched Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020 as the Almeda Fire raced through a neighborhood south of Medford, Oregon.
Damon Arthur/Record Searchlight
The Almeda Fire went through this neighborhood in the area of Medford, Oregon fast and hot on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020.
The Almeda Fire went through this neighborhood in the area of Medford, Oregon fast and hot on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020.
Damon Arthur/Record Searchlight
A plane drops retardant on a fire burning Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020 next to Interstate 5 between Medford and Central Point, Oregon.
A plane drops retardant on a fire burning Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020 next to Interstate 5 between Medford and Central Point, Oregon.
Oregon Department Of Transportation
A plane drops retardant on a fire burning Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020 next to Interstate 5 between Medford and Central Point, Oregon.
A plane drops retardant on a fire burning Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020 next to Interstate 5 between Medford and Central Point, Oregon.
Oregon Department Of Transportation