Bootleg Fire evening update for July 7, 2021

The #BootlegFire burns in the Fremont-Winema National Forest on Fuego Mountain approximately 11 miles northeast of Sprague River, Oregon. (Image: Inciweb)

FIRE DETAILS

Cause:
Under investigation

Size:
11,000 Acres

Containment: 0%

Location:
11 Miles northeast of Sprague River, Oregon

Initial Report:
1:45 PM, July 6, 2021

Coverage of the 2021 Wildfire Season is brought to you by Ace Towing.

UPDATED - 10:38 PM, July 7, 2021, to include the Emergency Fire Closure below.

CHILOQUIN, Ore. – The Bootleg Fire has grown to an estimated 11,000 acres. Nearly tripling its size yesterday. The fire burns on Fuego Mountain, 11 miles northeast of Sprague River, Ore. inside the Chiloquin Ranger District of the Fremont-Winema National Forest.

The Bootleg Fire still has no containment. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Numerous resources are assigned to the fire and are on order. Northwest Team 10, a Type 2 Incident Command Team lead by Incident Commander Al Lawson, arrived in the area this evening and will be taking command of the fire at 6:00 AM tomorrow.

Today firefighters continued to gain intel and access points to the fire. Throughout the day, they were strengthening roads and continuing to use indirect firefighting tactics. The Klamath County Structural Taskforce started protection measures for private properties in the area.

The fire area continued to see hot, dry conditions and winds today, contributing to extreme fire behavior. There is a Red Flag Warning from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM tomorrow for strong, gusty winds and low relative humidity in South Central Oregon, including over the Bootleg Fire.

The Bootleg Fire burns in steep, rugged terrain in mixed conifer and lodgepole pine. Fire behavior is extreme and includes running, torching, and spotting. Movement and fire growth today were observed to be moving mostly to the south and southeast.

Smoke from the fire is highly visible from Oregon State Highway 140, Sprague River Highway, Chiloquin, and the surrounding area.

Drivers should expect increased traffic in the area from fire equipment and are asked to use caution driving in the area. Area residents and Forest visitors are asked to avoid the fire area, including Forest Roads 44, 46, and 3462, as well as Head of the River Campground and Sycan Crossing dispersed campground.

The fire is still only burning on National Forest System lands. However, multiple structures are threatened east of the fire.

Map of the #BootlegFire. Additional fire maps available at https://www.klamathfallsnews.org/maps

Evacuation Orders

Following are the current evacuation levels, at the request of the Bootleg Fire Incident Commander, issued by Klamath County Emergency Management:

Level 2 (GET SET)

Two properties located northeast of the fire.

Level 1 (GET READY)

Sycan Estates area north of the town of Beatty in eastern Klamath County.
Residents north of Drews Road between Sprague River Road near the town of Sprague River and Godawa Springs Road north of the town of Beatty.

For the latest evacuation information, visit https://www.facebook.com/KlamathCountyGov. To sign up for Klamath County alerts, visit http://alerts.klamathcounty.org.

South Central Oregon is continuing to have an active and early fire season. Area residents and visitors are asked to use extreme caution with anything that could spark a wildfire. Suspected wildfires should be reported immediately to 911.

Regional map of the #BootlegFire. Additional fire maps available at https://www.klamathfallsnews.org/maps

EMERGENCY FIRE CLOSURE

An emergency closure is now in effect for the Bootleg Fire area on the Fremont-Winema National Forest. While the fire is burning on the Chiloquin Ranger District, the closure includes part of the Bly Ranger District as well.

The closure area is on National Forest System land between Forest Road 4542 on the western edge, along Forest Road 45 on the northwest and northern edge and Forest Road 46 making up the rest of the northern border, then south on Forest Road 27 to the junction with Forest Road 3462, heading west to the junction with Forest Road 3445, then south to the Forest Boundary. The closure area follows the Forest Boundary west to Forest Road 44, following the road north to the junction with Forest Road 4542.

Additionally, Forest Road 44 is closed from Sprague River Road east to the junction with Forest Road 4542.

The closure order is formally referenced as 06-02-21-03. It went into effect tonight and is in effect until conditions allow or December 31, 2021, whichever occurs first. There will be public notifications when the closure order is lifted.

Area residents and Forest visitors are asked to avoid the fire area and related roads while suppression activities continue. Anyone driving in the area should watch for increased traffic and vehicles associated with wildland firefighting.

Violations of the closure order are punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment of not more than 6 months or both.

Information is provided by the Fremont-Winema National Forest and is current as of 10:39 PM, July 7, 2021. Klamath Falls News will continue to follow the situation and provide updates as they become available.

Klamath Falls News & Cascade Firewatch’s coverage of the 2021 Wildfire Season is brought to you by Ace Towing.

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