Crews work to stop the spread of the Upper Applegate Fire to nearby properties | Top Stories [Video]

JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. – Crews are working to control and stop the spread of the Upper Applegate Fire, but the fight doesn’t end there. Crews are working to protect the hundreds of homes just a mile away from the flames.

With more than 300 homes near the lines, the fire crews are working to protect the homes in case flames get closer — but for now, the fire is in wooded areas.

“Nothing of real alarm,” said Brian Mulhollen, the division chief for structure protection. “However, that can change very quickly in a fire situation just like this. So we decided to be very proactive.”

This protection from fire spread is being done through fuel reductions and creating of defensible spaces. This means removing dead pine needles and twigs that could easily burn, or completely taking out trees and bushes that are close to a property.

In a region plagued …