The fire is completely contained, but it provided some frightening moments for people in the area.
“I stayed here and kept the site secure and was able to monitor the fire and update the guests and staff down at the cooling shelter,” said Operations Manager for Rogue Retreat, Justin Hon, says Sunday’s fire near the Bear Creek Greenway brought back some terrible memories from last fall.
“I saw this big plume of smoke and I was extremely devastated, you know because it triggered the Almeda with me and I thought – we’re going to lose everything.”
Hon says Rogue Retreat recently secured a lease on the land behind the old Crater Meat Packing building to establish another urban campground.
Rogue Retreat’s urban campground for the unhoused could double in size
If passed by the Medford City Council, Rogue Retreat’s homeless campground will be adding a second location.
Posted: Apr 15, 2021 3:21 PM
Updated: Apr 15, 2021 5:36 PM
Posted By: Adam Schumes
The urban campground expansion could come to fruition if approved by the Medford City Council. Under the proposal, the new location would also be on Biddle Road, right across from the current site.
If passed, the new campground could help Rogue Retreat house 50 more people. The urban campground houses more than 70 at present.
“So, if they re a couple, they can come in as a couple, which will increase that number past 50. It ll open up more opportunity for people as they progress forward,” said Justin Hon, the operations manager for Rogue Retreat.