Bootleg Fire grows another 50,000 acres; new evacuations in Lake County
/Bootleg Fire update for July 13, 2021
FIRE DETAILS
Cause:
Under investigation
Size:
201,923 Acres
Containment: 0%
Location:
North of the communities of Sprague River & Beatty, Ore.
Resources:
Personnel: 1,189
Hotshot Crews: 3
Type II Attack Crews: 6
Type II Crews: 10
Hand crews: 22
Structure Task Forces: 14
Engines: 133
Dozers: 9
Water Tenders: 32
Other Heavy Equip: 3
Assigned Aircraft: 10
Structures Threatened: 1,926
Fuels:
Heavy Timber, grass, and understory.
Incident Commanders:
Al Lawson
Lance Lightly
Initial Report:
1:45 PM, July 6, 2021
Estimated Containment:
November 30, 2021
Last Updated:
1:00 PM, July 13, 2021
Coverage of the 2021 Wildfire Season is brought to you by Ace Towing.
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.
The weather forecast shows little signs of relief. The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning through 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday. A heat advisory has also been issued until 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Fire managers noted the potential for rapid spread in the coming days.
Al Lawson, Incident Commander of PNW Team 10 encouraged the firefighters to adjust their expectations to the new conditions. “As you go out there today—adjust your reality. We have not seen a fire move like this, in these conditions, this early in the year. Expect the fire to do things that you have not seen before.”
ZONE 1 UPDATE
A new fire started in the Moccasin Hills area yesterday and led to the evacuation of several residents. Local firefighters, both structural and wildland crews, and air support teamed up and quickly suppressed the five-acre fire.
On the southern edge of the fire, crews were successful in keeping the main fire out of populated areas. The fire burned mostly toward the southeast yesterday. Crews built six miles of dozer line toward Obenchain Reservoir. Firefighters continued to connect and improve dozer lines, install hose lays to extinguish hot spots near structures and along the control, and assess and remove fire damaged trees.
The fire is impacting a high-voltage transmission line. Fire officials and representatives with the power companies are working together on plans to safely re-energize the lines as soon as possible.
ZONE 2 UPDATE
Fire crews on the North Zone of the fire identified and began to suppress three new fires totaling 150 acres in the Summer Lake area. These crews also built dozer line and set up hose lays to keep the fire west of Forest Road 28.
On the fire’s western flank, crews made good progress in improving dozer line and extinguishing hot spots. Last night, crews continued preparations for burn-out operations down the western slope of Fuego Mountain. Along the northern flank, crews are scouting new locations for safe, effective primary and secondary containment lines.
STRUCTURAL TASK FORCE UPDATE
Yesterday, structural fire crews identified and extinguished spot fires around structures. Firefighters on the northeast side of the fire helped safeguard 11 people when winds pushed the fire toward them. Residents and firefighters retreated into a meadow, a safety zone. Once the fire passed, firefighters returned to the area and continued firefighting around the structures. These firefighters also assisted residents in two vehicles when they became trapped by the fire and were unable to escape because of downed trees. The firefighters removed the trees from the roadway, allowing the group to safely escape.
Other crews extinguished small fires around structures along the fire’s south end.
Bootleg Fire Briefing Map (July 12, 2021)
Map courtesy, National Infrared Operations. Click to enlarge.
EVACUATION INFORMATION
Due to rapid-fire movement, evacuation areas and levels are being updated as conditions change. The fastest way to find the latest information on evacuations is to subscribe to the Klamath County Sherriff’s office Emergency Alerts at: http://Alerts.KlamathCounty.org and/or visit the evacuation map.
Evacuation Center
Klamath County Fairgrounds (in Klamath Falls), South 6th Street entrance only.
LAKE COUNTY (NEW)
Level 3 (GO NOW) Evacuation Notice
South of the Sycan River, south of Forest Roads 3239 and 28, and the Gearhart Wilderness west of Forest Road 3372 in Lake County.
Level 2 (GET SET) Evacuation Notice
Sycan Marsh area, Chocktoot Creek Drainage area, west of Forest Road 28 and east of Forest Road 3372, north of Forest Road 34, and through the area that includes Corral Creek Campground and Mitchell Monument.
Level 1 (BE READY) Evacuation Notice
From the northeast at the Lake County line, through the Yamsay Mountain Recreation Area, extending east to the south of Thompson Reservoir to Winter Rim Recreation Area, then south near the Forest Boundary, then following Chewaucan Road south to Forest Road 34.
KLAMATH COUNTY
Level 3 (GO NOW) Evacuation Notice
Klamath County, north of the town of Beatty. East side of Godowa Springs Rd north of the OC and E Trail to the Klamath County Line need to leave immediately.
Klamath County, near the town of Sprague River. Upper tableland area north of Oregon Pines Rd need to leave immediately.
Level 2 (GET SET) Evacuation Notice
Klamath County, near the town of Sprague River. Klamath Forrest Estates/Moccasin Hills Area need to be prepared to leave.
Klamath County, West side of Godowa Springs Rd, south of Oregon Pines Rd and Tableland Rd. to the river need to be prepared to leave.
Level 1 (BE READY) Evacuation Notice
Klamath County, Between Beatty and Bly 3 miles south of Highway 140 from Yellow Jacket Springs to Fishhole Creek need to be ready in case.
Klamath County, the area from the intersection of Sprague River Rd and Forbes Rd extending east to Godowa Springs and Yellow Jacket Springs and south of the Sprague River 4 miles need to be ready in case.
The Klamath County Sheriff’s Office started to issue citations and will make arrests if necessary to keep people out of the Level 3 evacuation areas.
Map of the Emergency Fire Closure [click to enlarge]
CLOSURES
The Fremont-Winema National Forest is closed to the public in the fire area. See updated map and the Emergency Fire Closure Order 06-02-21-05 on Inciweb at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7609/ or on the forest’s website at www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/Fremont-winema/alerts-notices.
SMOKE
New fires in Oregon and northern California are contributing to smoke from the Bootleg Fire, with the probability of increasing the smoke layer. If you are sensitive to smoke, check air quality levels at: https://fires.airfire.org/outlooks/southcentraloregon.
FIRE PREVENTION
With Red Flag Warnings early this week, and exceptionally dry conditions, it is critical that area residents and visitors are extremely careful with anything that can potentially spark a wildfire. This includes not driving or parking on dry grass, following public and regulated use restrictions, ensuring chains aren’t dragging and that tires are properly inflated. A small spark can quickly become a large wildfire in minutes.
If you suspect a wildfire, please call 911 to report it immediately. Help our firefighters focus on the Bootleg Fire and not having to respond to new starts!
Information is provided by the Fremont-Winema National Forest, Klamath County Emergency Management, Oregon Department of Forestry, and Northwest IMT 10 is current as of 1:00 PM, July 13, 2021.
Klamath Falls News will continue to follow the situation and provide updates as they become available.
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