Antelope Fire update for August 27, 2021.

A wrapped and protected structure on the Antelope Fire. (Image: Inciweb)

ANTELOPE FIRE DETAILS

Cause: Lightning
Size: 71,326 Acres
Containment: 42%

Location:
Antelope Creek Drainage
Klamath National Forest

Personnel: 945

Fuels:
Mixed conifer transitioning to ponderosa pine with a sage bitterbrush understory

Last Update:
August 27, 2021.

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

TENNANT, Calif. - This weekend, weather conditions will be near critical for fire behavior. Warm and dry weather along with northeast wind and low relative humidity values will create conditions for active fire movement. The northeast wind will test any control line on the southwest side of fire areas retaining heat. The operational focus today will be to keep the fire within containment lines in these areas.

A virtual public meeting was held last night and can be found on the Klamath National Forest Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/KlamathNF/.

The Siskiyou County Sherriff has rescinded the evacuation order for private landowners at Medicine Lake, however a closure order for all northern California national forest lands remains in effect until at least September 6, 2021 (see restrictions below). All of the Medicine Lake Highlands are closed.

Crews continue to patrol, monitor and mop up along the fire line through the day and night.

Yesterday, on the west side of the fire, firefighters burned unburned vegetation that could threaten fire lines in the Rainbow Lake area. This operation was supported with helicopters and an infrared flight showed that the burn was successfully completed within the containment lines. Crews will mop up and monitor that area today.

On the southwest side of the fire, firefighters continue to mop up and connect bulldozer line near Butte Creek in the area from Butte Creek south to Antelope Creek.

Crews continue to patrol and mop up on Forest Road 6 and Forest Road 13 between Watkama Butte and Horse Peak.

An area of focus on the east side of the fire is mopping up from Red Cap Mountain to Pumice Stone Mountain. Firefighters will continue to add hoselines and mop up from Garner Mountain south to Pumice Mountain and will patrol and mop up south of Pumice Mountain Road to Buck Hill. Helicopters have helped to monitor and cool hot spots by dropping water. Containment is expected to increase in this area in the next few days.

The northwest and northeast flanks of the fire remain cold. During the day, firefighters continue to monitor and patrol the areas from Antelope Sink southeast to Tamarack Springs and Antelope Sink southwest to Blue Spring. They will backhaul unneeded hose line and equipment in these areas of the fire.

In the Medicine Lake area, a Structure Protection Group continues to make progress on grinding up downed vegetation with a chipper and excavator with support from an engine.

Evacuations
The Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office has issued Evacuation Orders and Evacuation Warnings for several communities and general areas surrounding the Antelope Fire.

For the most current and accurate evacuation information for Siskiyou County, please visit: 211norcal.org/antelope_fire/.

An interactive map highlighting areas in evacuation status is available at: https://arcg.is/1mWjWj.

An evacuation center is located at the Kahtishraam Wellness Center at 1403 Kahtishraam in Yreka, CA.

Residents should stay alert for changes in evacuation status and sign up for emergency alerts using CodeRED at: https://www.co.siskiyou.ca.us/emergencyservices/page/codered-emergency-alert.

Weather & Fire Activity
Expect dry westerly winds with temperatures in the low 80’s. Relative humidity will be 12 to 17 percent. This afternoon north winds will become gusty. Warmer and drier conditions are still expected over the weekend and will bring temperatures in the high 80’s and relative humidity of 10-15 percent. Overnight low clouds will cause haze and smoke.

Fire activity will pick up in the early morning and into the evening. The northeast wind will test any control line on the southwest side of fire areas retaining heat. Dry understory shrub will significantly contribute to fire intensity and spread. Green fingers and pockets of unburned vegetation in and around the active fire edge continue to be receptive to embers. Latent spot fires may become active early today. Deep smoldering will continue. This weekend, weather conditions will be near critical for fire behavior.

Restrictions
The Klamath National Forest has issued a forest closure around the Antelope and Tennant Fires. The full closure order and map can be found on the Klamath National Forest website.

Smoke
A Smoke Outlook for the Antelope Fire is available at https://wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks/NECalifornia. Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease should take precautionary measures.

Fire Maps

Antelope Fire Public Information Map. Click to enlarge.

Antelope Fire Progression Map. Click to enlarge.

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

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