Bootleg Megafire containment 84%, not expected to 'burn out' until winter
/Bootleg Fire update for August 2, 2021
FIRE DETAILS
Cause:
Lightning / Natural
Size: 413,762 Acres
Containment: 84%
Location
South Central Oregon Klamath & Lake Counties
Total Personnel: 1,780
Fireline Totals:
Active edge: 51 miles
Contained line: 272 miles
Property Destroyed
Residences: 161
Misc. Structures: 247
Vehicles: 342
Fuels:
Heavy Timber, grass, and understory.
Initial Report:
1:45 PM, July 6, 2021
Estimated Containment:
October 1, 2021
Last Updated:
10:00 AM, August 2, 2021
Coverage of the 2021 Wildfire Season is brought to you by Ace Towing.
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.
If a spot fire were to start, or if the existing fire jumped the line, contingency lines are in place to stop its progression. Due to the crews’ tremendous efforts over the past few days, the percent containment has increased and the miles of active fire edge has decreased significantly.
Because of the Bootleg Fire’s size and local conditions, it still holds a lot of heat. Even though progress has been made and fire advisors are confident in the containment measures, severe conditions remain for fire hazards. “Megafires” like this do not usually burn out until late fall or early winter when moisture increases and temperature decreases.
Night operations on the Bootleg Fire. (Image: Magee Graeme, Big State Wildfire / Inciweb)
“For local residents, warm, dry, windy weather in this area is not a surprise,” said Tom Wright, Incident Meteorologist of the National Weather Service, Medford. “In fact, this is a common weather pattern, but it usually occurs in September—not the end of July and early August.” But this year is different. Several events led to the extremely dry conditions this year. Klamath and Lake counties are in an “exceptional” drought and have been in drought conditions for more than two years. Rainfall is at barely half the normal amount for the water year, and it is unlikely that the percentage will catch up, since the remainder of the year is the dry season. The record heat event in late June that included three consecutive days over 100 degrees Fahrenheit also had a major impact on drying trees, vegetation, and soil.
Today’s weather will include isolated afternoon showers and thunderstorms with scant amounts of rain. Over the next few days, temperatures will increase, the humidity will decrease, and winds will pick up, creating critical fire weather conditions. Fuels around the fire are nearly 100% receptive to ignition if lightning strikes or an ember lands.
Big Bear Interagency Hotshot Crew hikes to their assignment on the Bootleg Fire. (Image: Mike McMillan, USFS / Inciweb)
Public Information Map of the Bootleg Fire.
Visit https://www.klamathfallsnews.org/bootleg-fire-maps for additional maps
– EVACUATION INFORMATION
Night operations on the Bootleg Fire. (Image: Magee Graeme, Big State Wildfire / Inciweb)
In Lake County, a Level 3 evacuation remains in place for all areas around the Bootleg Fire perimeter. The level 3 evacuation zone extends to areas immediately adjacent to the fire line in all directions and includes Yamsay Mountain, Thompson Reservoir, and the Sycan Marsh to the top of Winter Rim. No evacuations are in place in Klamath County. Visit https://www.klamathfallsnews.org/bootleg-fire-evacuations for the latest evacuation information.
For information or assistance with evacuations contact the Red Cross at 1-800-Red-Cross (www.redcrossblog.org/disaster)
– INSURANCE ASSISTANCE
For additional information on submitting insurance claims after losing your home or property to a wildfire, please visit htps://dfr.oregon.gov/insure/home/storm/Pages/wildfires.aspx or call the state’s team of consumer advocates at 888-877-4894 (toll-free).
– CLOSURES
The Fremont-Winema National Forest is closed to the public in the fire area. Map and full order are available here.
– SMOKE
A change in weather paterns could start as early as tonight, as Tuesday could be a warmer, drier, and winder day than the past several. This could impact fire behavior in a way that will put more smoke into the air. Today will be generally good to moderate air quality day. This could change tonight as hazy conditions are expected. Smokier conditions close to the fire could bring back more periods when the air is Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) on Tuesday,
Smoke report. fires.airfire.org/outlooks/southcentraloregon
– OUTLOOK
Planned Actions
Accounting for risk and probability of success, construct direct fireline on uncontrolled sections of the northern fire perimeter. Two areas of primary concern exist along the northern perimeter.
Northwest corner: Currently holding this location and is lined with either dozer or handline, but if unable to hold fire in this location, fire has potential to burn into the Yamsey Semi-primitive Area and up Yamsey Mountain. Fire in this area would substantially increase acreage as limited holding opportunities exist within this steep and roadless area with continuous fuels. Indirect alternate line is being constructed in this area in the event holding of direct line is not successful.
Northeast corner: Although the continuity of the fuels becomes broken from historic wildfires, spot fires continue to occur within this area. If a spot fire would become established in this area, the Winter Rim could become threatened and fire may progress down the rim into structures along Summer Lake and Highway 31. If such fire activity were to occur, the existing structure protection group would have some difficulty in protecting structures along the Summer Lake area without reinforcements. Indirect alternate line is being constructed in this area in the event holding of direct line is not successful. North of this area to Indian Mountain a continuous line of mixed conifer exists with indirect line being constructed in the event fire becomes established within this area.
Patrol and mop-up along the south, west and east perimeters of fire to the degree necessary to make the likelihood of escape low based on overhead hazards, terrain, fuel types, and current and potential fire behavior and weather. Continue operations to complete indirect alternate lines. Locate, identify, and mitigate hazard trees and other hazards within the fire environment.
Projected Incident Activity
Moderated fire behavior overnight as fuels begin to react to lower temperatures and humidity recovery. Significant fire spread is unlikely overnight except in thermal belts. The beginning of dry and windier weather coupled with the still extremely dry fuels increases the potential for spotting outside the containment lines, and will provide a good test of the current control lines that are currently in place.
Additional Remarks
Klamath and Lake County Sheriff and Emergency Managers are handling evacuation planning.
The large increase in containment percentage is partially due to containing line around an interior green island.
– WEATHER CONCERNS
Isolated showers developed in and near the fire today focused mainly on Branch IV. Minimum relative humidity percentages were generally in the lower to middle 20s.
Isolated afternoon showers and thunderstorms are possible again on Monday, but the chance of a wetting rain is very low. Temperatures will range from the lower 80s to near 90 with terrain-driven winds of 5-10 mph through 1000 becoming southwest 5 to 15 mph gusting to 20 mph in open areas. Sheltered areas are expected to be light and variable before becoming upslope 5-10 mph with gusts to 15 mph. Relative humidity values will range from the teens to lower 20s% range in the afternoon.
Information is provided by the Bootleg Fire Incident Command is current as of 10:00 AM, August 2, 2021.
Klamath Falls News & Cascade Firewatch’s coverage of the 2021 Wildfire Season is brought to you by Ace Towing.
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