Bootleg Fire update for July 29, 2021

Bootleg Fire Morning Operational Update for July 29, 2021. Operations Section Chief Karen Scholl with the Alaska Incident Management Teams provides the Thursday morning situational update on the Bootleg Fire in Southern Oregon. Crews are gearing up for hot, dry conditions especially on the north and east areas of the fire. They are building line as best they can with limited crews and difficult terrain.

FIRE DETAILS

Cause:
Lightning / Natural

Size: 413,545 Acres

Containment: 53%

Location
South Central Oregon Klamath & Lake Counties

Total Personnel: 1,994

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:
12:00 PM, July 29, 2021

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

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - Despite the recent rain, fire activity picked up yesterday. Fire activity increased as the warm day dried out the fire faster and wind gusts were stronger than expected.

The northwest corner remains the most active area. Dozers and hand crews are working together to close the line around that portion of the perimeter. Heavy helicopter support kept the fire cool while crews worked around Round Butte. The objective today is to hold and secure the progress made.

Fire Behavior Specialist Chris Moore commented on how unusual it is to see fire flare ups so quickly after a wetting rain. “As we move out of normal climatological range, previous experience is less relevant,” said Moore. “The rain that we got will not put the fire out. Spotting will become more of an issue as fuels dry out again.”

Incident Commander Norm McDonald reinforced this caution stating that we need “a recalibration of where we are. There isn’t a ‘normal’ anymore. We need to be prepared for anything.”

Bootleg Fire, firing operations within Division I. July 23, 2021 (Image: Richard Parrish, Inciweb)

Two more ember-cast spot fires were identified yesterday off the northeast flank of the fire, west of Winter Rim. The spot fires were about a half mile outside the fire perimeter and small in size (less than two acres). Helicopters dropped water as air tankers made multiple retardant drops. It still requires firefighters working on the line to secure these spots. Crews will continue to take aggressive action to address any future spot fires.

The east flank of the fire remains active. That edge of the fire is a “dirty edge,” that is, there isn’t a continuous edge to the fire in this area as the fire leaves pockets of unburned vegetation. This ragged edge is more difficult for crews to secure.

In the southern portion of the fire, where activity has been relatively quiet, there were flare ups and smoke plumes visible yesterday from inside the burned area. This is a good thing. Burning fuels within the fire perimeter will help decrease the heat and chances for ember cast in the future.

Warm weather will continue through the week. Gusty winds are expected today, especially in more open areas. Yesterday a Fire Weather Watch was issued for much of the fire area through Friday. West of the fire, a Red Flag Warning is in effect through tomorrow due to thunderstorms. Scattered rain and isolated thunderstorms are possible through the weekend.

The Bootleg Fire is in a Fire Weather Watch and the north and east flanks are right on the border of a Red Flag Warning. Today and tomorrow will continue with this pattern.

Public Information Map of the Bootleg Fire. Visit https://www.klamathfallsnews.org/bootleg-fire-maps for additional maps

– EVACUATION INFORMATION

Evacuations are dynamic. Klamath County has dropped all evacuation notices; however, the Fremont-Winema National Forest remains closed. Evacuation levels are being lowered again in Lake County. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management are removing all residences in Lake County outside of the fire’s perimeter from a Level 3 evacuation. Effective immediately.

Visit https://www.klamathfallsnews.org/bootleg-fire-evacuations for the lates evacuation information.

For information or assistance: 1-800-Red-Cross (www.redcrossblog.org/disaster)

– CLOSURES

The Fremont-Winema National Forest is closed to the public in the fire area. Map and full order are available here.

– SMOKE

Winds out of the southwest could blow smoke over the eastern parts of the region. The communities of Silver Lake and Paisley could see elevated air quality today. There is a chance that Silver Lake could see some of the heaviest impacts.

– OUTLOOK

Planned Actions
Accounting for risk and probability of success, construct direct fireline on uncontrolled sections of the northern fire perimeter. Three areas of primary concern exist along the northern perimeter.

Northwest corner: 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.

North-Central section along Sycan Marsh: Fire could flank along to the northeast and threaten the Winter Rim and structures along Summer Lake.

Northeast corner: Although the continuity of the fuels become 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.

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 experience, overhead hazards, terrain, fuel types, and current and predicted fire behavior and weather. Continue operations to complete indirect and contingency lines. Refine the PACE process identifying and updating the Primary, Alternate, Contingency and Emergency lines that may have changed with updated fire perimeters for the scheduled IMT Strategy Meeting. 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 recent moisture and humidity recovery. Significant fire spread is unlikely overnight. The fire will continue to have low to moderate spread potential as fuels begin to recover from recent precipitation. Live and larger fuels are still critically dry. Drier conditions will return but fire spread is expected to lag in intensity. Heavy fuels are still dry but lighter fuels will begin to transition to drier conditions.

Additional Remarks
National Guard personnel were organized into six 20 person Type 2 handcrews, and began working on the fire on July 28 (accounted for by the 6 additional State Type 2 crews in the resource summary)

National Risk Management Team will visit the fire over the next several days to work with the Incident Management Team and local fire managers. The Oregon Governor visited Incident Command Post, forward operating base, and National Guard traffic control points today.

– WEATHER CONCERNS

Dense fog in the lower valleys persisted through mid-morning before dissipating. By early afternoon, relative humidity values had fallen to the 12-25% range across the fire. Wind gusts were as high as 25 mph. Winds are expected to become light and variable overnight with patchy fog possible over western portions of the fire.

Isolated to scattered afternoon thunderstorms are possible Thursday and Friday. A Fire Weather Watch is in effect on Friday for lightning over dry fuels. Temperatures will range from the upper 70s to near 90 with northerly winds 5 to 15 mph gusting to 20 mph. Stronger winds are possible near thunderstorms. Relative humidity values will fall to around 20% in the afternoon.

Looking toward the next few days, an isolated afternoon evening storm is possible but much of the area will remain dry. Temperatures will range from the upper 70s to upper 80s with southwest to west winds 5 to 15 mph gusting to 20 mph. Gustier winds are possible near thunderstorms. Relative humidity values will fall to around 20% in the afternoon.

Information is provided by the Bootleg Fire Incident Command is current as of 1:00 PM, July 27, 2021.

– MORE INFORMATION

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.