The Jacksonville Fire Department responded at 4:00 am May 19 to a residential structure fire at 440 West California Street.  Prior to fire department arrival, six residents and 3 dogs had evacuated the home. The first crew to enter the home reported fire and smoke at the rear of the structure and then requested a second alarm.  Firefighters from Fire District #3, Medford Fire/Rescue and Fire District #5 and volunteers from Jacksonville responded to assist the Jacksonville crew already on-scene.

Jacksonville’s crew had arrived within five minutes of the initial 911 call. The fire was declared knocked down at 4:40 am. No injuries were sustained and the cause of the fire is under investigation.  The pre-dawn fire slowed early morning commuters who were diverted by Jacksonville Police and ODOT to bypass the immediate area during fire operations along California Street/Highway 238. The May 19 incident marks the third structural fire the Jacksonville Fire Department has responded to in a month.