EAGLE POINT, Ore. — Fire crews responded to a growing fire roughly five miles to the northeast of Eagle Point on Thursday afternoon, later prompting evacuation orders for one nearby road.

Brian Ballou with the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) told NewsWatch 12 that the Worthington Fire is now estimated at roughly 500 acres.

The approximate location is at the end of Worthington Road, among wooded hills between Eagle Point and Butte Falls. ODF described the area as forest and brush, partly on BLM land and on private property protected by ODF.

Worthington Road is now under a Level 3 "GO" evacuation order from the 1500-block to the end of the road.

Ballou said that the fire's growth seems to be increasingly toward the southeast.

Resources and fire crews from ODF, the federal Bureau of Land Management, and Jackson County Fire Districts 2 and 3 are on the scene. Ballou said that three large air tankers, one very large air tanker (VLAT) and six helicopters are aiding with drops on the fire area.

"Temperatures this afternoon in Eagle Point reached 100 degrees, with red-flag warnings," ODF said. "Winds are expected to slow overnight. However, high temperatures are expected to be above 90 through the weekend."

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

This is a developing story and will be updated with more details as they emerge.