Illinois Valley Fire District received a report of a suspicious open burn behind the former Radio Shack and future gas station, “The Trails Store” building Jan. 31 at 7:24 p.m. First units to the scene quickly upgraded this to a “Commercial Structure Fire.”
After suppression efforts were underway, a second alarm was initiated with more apparatus and personnel dispatched to respond to the scene.
The building was sold to CK Designs who came to the city of Cave Junction in March 2022 and the project was greenlighted at the April 26, 2022 city council meeting.
Oddly enough, Jan. 31, the day of the fire, CK Designs LP project designer Nick Stephens of TAIT & Associates Inc. had just spoken to the city’s planning clerk to update her on recent permits obtained and that the project was moving forward.
Units responding were IVFD, AMR-Josephine County, Rural Metro Fire – Josephine County, Grants Pass Fire Rescue, Rogue River Fire District, ODOT, PP&L, Josephine County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police and Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal.
The fire was monitored throughout the night of Jan. 31 and is still under investigation.