Jackson Wellsprings: The Fire Story

Jackson WellSprings: The Fire Story and Photos by Debra Moon

    The WellSprings is a 35-acre property between Ashland and Talent, that has been a beloved site for local residents and visitors for centuries. Its healing waters spa, garden land, and site of close to 50 residents was recently threatened by the Almeda fire and was saved by a handful of people. 

    Priestess Graell, Director of the Goddess Temple of Ashland at the WellSprings shared, “The WellSprings was protected by love, water dragons, front liners, first responders, global and local prayers, miracles, and truly dedicated guardians.” 

    Many people currently living in Ashland or Talent make the assumption that the WellSprings is simply a hippie trailer park. In reality, it is much more. The land has been considered sacred and the waters healing since its time of use by local indigenous people. Through the centuries it was a place where native tribes laid down their weapons to partake of the healing spirit and waters of the site. It was a place of peace and neutrality, as well as a site for physical and shamanic birth practices. Today the Stewards of the WellSprings strive to keep it a place of neutrality, acceptance and healing, embracing all faiths and all walks of life. 

    The artesian mineral springs provide 80,000 gallons of water daily into the pools, gardens, drinking water fountains, and resident’s homes. The area was first developed in Ashland in 1862 when Eugenia Jackson decided the waters should be available to the public. They were first known as Jackson Hot Springs (named after Eugenia). They are one of eight remaining hot springs in Southern Oregon. Eugenia’s home still stands on Jackson Road across from the WellSprings area, and it was also saved from the fire on September 8th. 

    During these challenging times, covid-regulation compliance camping, glamping (glamorous camping in lotus tents, bell tents, and domes), private rental of the pools, outdoor events and classes are regularly held. The grounds include trailer living spaces, camp sites, a goddess temple and oak temple where people are welcome to pray and experience the beauty of nature. People of all genders are welcome to visit. A vegetable garden, an herb garden, and many structures, grace the land as well. The WellSprings spa, event facilities and gardens offer a healing environment to relax, celebrate, and gather. The land is also home to the non-profit, Health Research Institute (HRI), which sponsors educational, botanical and environmental restoration projects. HRI and the Wellsprings are dedicated to promoting optimal human and environmental health. 

    On September 7th there was an incredibly powerful windstorm that increased to 45-mile-per-hour gales. The following morning a handful of people were focused on clearing fallen branches around the site. At 11 am on September 8th, a half-acre grass fire began at Alameda Drive. This was a fire that would consume 3,200 acres and destroy nearly 3,000 structures in our area. It quickly jumped to the Owner of the WellSprings, Gerry Lehrburger’s neighborhood, which is very close to the WellSprings property. A few helpful friends of the WellSprings volunteered to quickly assist to protect Gerry’s historic home which is part of the original Eugenia Jackson homestead. At 11:53 am the police announced all needed to evacuate the area, but the guardians of the sacred site did not leave. Priestess Graell immediately sent out a Facebook shout out requesting help and prayers for protection. She reached out to sister goddess temples in Prague, Hawaii, Mount Shasta, Italy, Brazil, and England to hold candlelight and water vigils. 

    Due to Covid—the grounds at the Wellsprings had been basically closed for nearly 6 months and basic necessities for festivals were not being regularly used. The water tank on its trailer was in high brush and needed to be dug out and hitched to a volunteer civilian fire fighter’s truck to begin filling it from the largest pool on the property. Numerous trips from the pool to the road brought 200 gallons of water. The hope was to soak the Bear Creek Greenway across the street to deter the flames from jumping the road. 

    Cottonwood trees exploded from the heated water within their trunks, the Burger King across the road was burning, cars were on fire, helicopters were overhead, a massive red glow was looming in the sky over Talent, the next town down Hwy 99. “It felt like a war zone!” Graell said. Barely any of the helpers had proper fire gear. She herself, faced the fire in a cotton dress, and local Tree Gardener, Herve Perreault, who was very instrumental in protecting the WellSprings, was wearing his arborist work clothes. Graell helped with hoses, directed civilian fire fighters and small district firefighters to fill their tanks at the pool. She ran food and drinking water to the volunteers and held base camp with a group of more helpful people who increased throughout the day and evening. The strong winds continued to drive the flames further and higher. 

    Champion Gerry Lehrburger not only saved the WellSprings, but also saved his home with the tireless efforts of his wife, sons, and daughter along with two friends of the WellSprings by accessing the Talent Irrigation District (TID) water and the irrigation system of his yard. Although the fire burned all around his home, it remains standing. Meanwhile, after about 15 runs from the pool to the Bear Creek Greenway, the pump used to shoot water from the hose had flooded and quit working. Miraculously, at that moment, the Fire Department arrived with their large truck and professional hoses to target the high flames. The larger crew eventually had to keep moving with the fire to prevent more damage down the road, and the local guardians were left with the “mop up” job. They created a bucket brigade and pumped water out of Bear Creek to soak the burning coals. The flames did not jump the road till after the WellSprings property, and then continued northward down the side of the street that the Wellsprings is on. 

    Fire in the trees that had started low, was now traveling up the center of the trees and dropping fire balls from the treetops. The helpers had to be diligent to put these out quickly as they fell. They continuously extinguished sparks from the trees. Only seven volunteers fought the fire across the street from about 11:30am on September 8th until about 5 am on the 9th with barely any break time. At 5 am, Graell and Herve searched for Gerry and crossed the street to find him alone putting out coals and sparks from a glistening cluster of still lit trees with a shovel. The crew were finally able to rest for a few hours. Graell and Herve slept on the ground in order to detect any change of wind or uprising of fire. 

    Roads were blocked, and to add insult to injury, the WellSprings volunteers had to deal with many cars trying to cut through the grounds to avoid the roadblocks. The WellSprings guardians remained in precautionary mode and set up a fire safety station for another possible emergency. They were on alarm for seven days without residential or drinking water or electricity. Priestesses of the Goddess Temple provided food and supplies. Gnomadic Jack and LeBeau of the Ashland Resource Center provided many cases of drinking water, Asha Deliverance, of Pacific Domes, provided food, camping supplies, flashlights and much more. The WellSprings sent all extra donations to the fire victims in Takelma and the houseless at Hawthorne Park in Medford. The WellSprings is now holding many fundraisers to assist fire relief efforts for so many in need of housing and care at this difficult time. 

    Graell and the stewards of the WellSprings send many thanks to all the brave souls who stayed and protected the area with ingenious problem solving, resourcefulness, and persistence in their efforts. Although the fire from the Bear Creek Greenway moved on, these devoted people helped preserve a sacred and historic site.