KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - The Klamath Community Leadership Foundation announced Thursday generous contributions from Wilsonart to assist two critical local volunteer organizations. The first contribution will assist volunteer firefighters in replacing and restoring materials and supplies damaged and exhausted in this year’s Bootleg and other wildfires. The second contribution is to aid the volunteer Search and Rescue organization within the Klamath County Sheriff’s office.

LAKEVIEW, Ore. – Beautiful fall weather is in the forecast for this weekend and while it will be a great weekend for recreation and woodcutting, area residents and visitors are reminded to be aware of current closure orders and restrictions for the area where they are planning to work or play.

LAKEVIEW, Ore. – For many people, Labor Day weekend is traditionally enjoyed time to recreate on area public lands or work on outdoor projects. Even with recent cooler temperatures, fire danger remains Extreme. Fire officials from the South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership (SCOFMP) ask the public to stay vigilant with anything that can start a wildfire this Labor Day Weekend.

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - A Type 3 incident management organization will assume command of Bootleg Fire from the Pacific Northwest Incident Management Team 2 on Saturday, August 14 at 6:00 a.m. In total, eight Incident Management Teams were assigned to manage the Bootleg Fire since it began on July 6.

LAKEVIEW, Ore. – A Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team started on Monday, August 9 in Klamath Falls, Oregon to begin their assessment of the Bootleg Fire. The fire covered 413,765 acres of land on the Fremont-Winema National Forest, and neighboring state and private lands.

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - Firefighters continue to grid and mop up in the northeast corner of the Bootleg Fire near Silver Creek as they work toward achieving 100% containment. Control lines that have already been secured are being patrolled and firefighters are removing pumps and hose and other suppression supplies that are no longer needed. Some suppression repair activities are underway in the northeast corner of the fire.

BONANZA, Ore. – Two wildfires were reported this afternoon on Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) protected lands on Bly Mountain - Yainax Fire and the Walrus Fire.

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - Yesterday crews reported smokes from smoldering and torching fuels inside the burn area as they widen the fire line and soak the remaining heat and flames. Dozers continue to straighten the ragged edge of the fire line on the east side for improved containment.

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - Despite the recent rain, fire activity picked up yesterday. Fire activity increased as the warm day dried out the fire faster and wind gusts were stronger than expected.

LAKEVIEW, Ore. – The emergency closure area for the Bootleg Fire on the Fremont-Winema National Forest was reduced this week, with the southern edge being pulled up from the Oregon-California Stateline north to Oregon State Highway 140.

KLAMATH COUNTY, Ore. - Governor Kate Brown today visited Klamath County, where she toured areas of damage from the Bootleg Fire and met with local officials, command staff, firefighters, Oregon National Guard members, and other frontline staff.

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - Due to the hard work of hundreds of people working on the Bootleg Fire in eastern Klamath County, Klamath County Emergency Management is removing all current evacuation levels for those areas of the fire within Klamath County at 3:00 PM today (July 27, 2021).

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - This morning the Alaska Incident Management Team assumed leadership of the Bootleg Fire after several days of transition with the other teams. Incident Commander Norm McDonald thanked the Pacific Northwest Team 2, Oregon State Fire Marshal Red Team, and Oregon Department of Forestry Team 1 for leaving us in such a good position.

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - As firefighters successfully patrol and hold the containment line around the southern area of the Bootleg Fire, activity continues on the northern edges.

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - Yesterday, fireline construction progressed north from Long Creek toward Coyote Creek. The day shift was able to hold the fireline from the 400 Road to the south despite some active fire behavior that was pushing to the north and west. Night shift was able to work the area between Long Creek and Coyote Creek and construct direct fireline with dozers, hand crews, and hose lay

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - The Oregon State Fire Marshall Incident Management Team has transitioned to working with Zone 2 on the north and northeast sections of the fire. Yesterday, the fireline into Long Creek was improved with hose lay and overnight firefighters were able to begin constructing a direct line between Long Creek and Coyote Creek. Crews continue to work on the contingency lines in the northern portion of the fire above Sycan Marsh.

LAKEVIEW, Ore. - Incident Management Teams are working closely with local public health and Oregon Health Authority’s investigation into several positive cases of COVID-19 among resources working on the Bootleg Fire. Nine individuals have tested positive.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.) delivered remarks on the floor of the United States House of Representatives. Bentz spoke on Oregon wildfires, specifically the Bootleg fire, and his recently introduced bill, the Commonsense Coordination Act.

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - Higher humidity and reduced wind speeds yesterday and overnight allowed firefighters to construct and improve firelines. Today’s forecast will be favorable to continue those efforts in securing the existing fireline. A steady warming and drying trend will begin today and continue into the weekend which can affect fire activity in the upcoming days.

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - The weather moderated yesterday with reduced wind speeds, lower temperatures, and slightly higher humidity, which allowed firefighters to continue constructing and improving firelines. Weather conditions are favorable again today for the efforts to secure the existing fireline.

Shasta Elementary School is sponsoring a food drive to help families impacted by the Bootleg Fire.

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - For ten days in a row, extreme fire behavior in the afternoon and evening has resulted in firefighters moving to safety zones. Yesterday evening, parts of the fire received a trace amount of rain from thunderstorms in the area. While the main Bootleg Fire merged with the Log Fire as anticipated.

BEATTY, Ore. - On Sunday, July 18, 2021, the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call near the 31000 block of Godowa Springs Rd in eastern Klamath County on reports that a property owner was shooting near fire crews working on the Bootleg Fire.

LAKEVIEW, Ore. - A firefighter became separated from his crew while working on the Bootleg Fire in Lake County today. The incident occurred when the fire crew was working on containing spot fires in the Happy Camp area.

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - Smoke cleared early around the Bootleg Fire yesterday due to increased southwest winds, which allowed air operations to support the firefighting efforts on the ground. Firefighters utilized retardant drops and water bucket work along the northern flank and southeast corner of the fire. Crews are utilizing Sam’s Cabin Road and the 27 Road to stop fire growth to the north.

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - Smoke cleared early around the Bootleg Fire yesterday due to increased southwest winds, which allowed air operations to support the firefighting efforts on the ground. Firefighters utilized retardant drops and water bucket work along the northern flank and southeast corner of the fire. Crews are utilizing Sam’s Cabin Road and the 27 Road to stop fire growth to the north.

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - For the fourth day in a row, firefighters withdrew from leading edges of the Bootleg Fire as extreme fire conditions fueled expansive fire growth. In the late afternoon, a large pyrocumulus cloud ‘collapsed’ further spreading embers to the east of the main fire and prompting additional evacuation notices for the communities of Summer Lake and Spring Lake in Lake County.

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - Firefighters reported another day of extreme fire behavior including torching, running, and frequent spotting ahead of the main fire including growth into the Gearhart Wilderness and north towards Lake Henry.

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - Dry and windy conditions contributed to another day of active fire behavior on the Bootleg Fire burning in Southern Oregon. Firefighters reported growth primarily to the east in the greater Gearhart Wilderness area. Air operations were severely limited due to unsafe flying conditions in heavy smoke.

BEATTY, Ore. - The Bootleg Fire burned another 50,000 acres yesterday. Infrared mapping shows the fire size at 201,923 acres. The fire grew by more than three miles, fueled by extreme drought conditions, single digit humidity, and high temperatures.