At least one person is confirmed dead and a criminal investigation is underway in connection to the Almeda Fire, Jackson County Sheriff Nathan Sickler said in a press conference Wednesday.
The fire, also referred to as the Glendower Fire, started burning north of Ashland on Tuesday around 11 a.m. It spread through parts of Talent and Phoenix, and is now moving toward Medford, Oregon, a town of 82,000 people.
As of Friday morning, the Almeda Fire has not shown any growth from its estimated 3,000 acreage. The fire is also now 20% contained, according to officials.