Containment on Cutoff Fire passes two-thirds mark

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Advanced technology aids a dirty job. Drone pilots fly an infrared drone over the Cutoff Fire to map residual heat. June 24, 2021. (Image: Inciweb)

Advanced technology aids a dirty job. Drone pilots fly an infrared drone over the Cutoff Fire to map residual heat. June 24, 2021. (Image: Inciweb)

Fire Details

Cause:
Under investigation

Start date/time:
6/18/21, 1:29 PM

Size:
1,288 Acres

Containment: 67%

Location:
6 Miles north of Bonanza, Oregon.

Resources:
Personnel - 407
Hand crews - 11
Engines - 20
Dozers - 2
Water Tenders - 8
Other Equipment - 7

Assigned aircraft: 5

Structures:
Threatened - 0
Damaged - 0
Destroyed - 22

Fuels:
Timber & grass

Fire team:
Oregon Department of Forestry, IMT 1

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

BONANZA, Ore.— Hard work pays off. Containment has reached 67% on the Cutoff Fire. There’s been no growth in the fire’s size, which remains at 1,288 acres. The fire is located six miles north of Bonanza and 20 miles east of Klamath Falls.

Today, firefighters will continue mopping up remaining hot spots close to the fire’s edge that were identified Wednesday night by air and ground-based infrared heat detection equipment. Firefighters are digging out stump holes, extinguishing smoldering duff and clearing low-hanging tree limbs.

Crews from the Cutoff Fire were sent to a new fire start east of Bonanza late yesterday to help local firefighters. Together, they stopped the spread of the Painter Fire. This is the fourth time aircraft or ground resources deployed to the Cutoff Fire have responded to new fire starts in the area.

This morning, officials lowered the evacuation levels for the fire area to Level 1 (Get Ready). Residents are advised to plan for how they would evacuate and where they would go if needed.

Incident Meteorologist Tom Wright from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is forecasting record-breaking triple-digit temperatures at the fire this weekend. “Like much of Oregon, it will be very warm Saturday and we could shatter heat records Sunday,” Wright said. Fire managers are having firefighters pace their work with the heat levels, drink lots of water and take shade breaks as needed to avoid heat-related illnesses.

Firefighting traffic remains heavy in the fire area. Fire managers ask that other drivers in the area stay aware and reduce speeds to accommodate fire-related traffic.

Map of the Cutoff Fire with Level 1 evacuation perimeter as of June 25, 2021. [Click to enlarge]

Significant events

Minimal, smoldering, creeping. The duff under juniper trees will hold heat. Fire-weakened trees may fall and flare up. As the humidity decreases, expect to see flare ups in unburned vegetation.

Outlook

Planned actions:
Locate, identify, and mitigate hazard trees. Grid and patrol for spot fires. Assist structure protection resources to protect and secure structures as necessary. Continue mop-up operations. Ensure all firelines are patrolled. Identify and be prepared to provide firefighting resources to attack new fire starts if requested.

Projected incident activity:
Fuel moistures will continue to push record high levels. High temperatures and low humidity will persist throughout the area. The continued threat for new starts in the area will pose a challenge for resources.


Current weather

Weather will be warm, dry and sunny through early afternoon. Clouds will build through the afternoon with isolated thunderstorms. If storms do occur over the fire, they will be moving from east to west, which hasn't happened before on this fire. The main threat with any storms will be lightning and erratic, gusty winds flowing outward from thunderstorms.

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

Ace Towing offers 24-hour emergency roadside assistance, collision towing, jump starts, lockouts, fuel, and tire changes. They also make automotive keys and program fobs too. 541-884-9388.

We are currently looking for additional sponsors for coverage of the 2021 Fire Season. Would your business like to sponsor our coverage of the 2021 Wildfire Season? Send us a note at klamathfallsnews.org/contact for more information.