Dry, windy conditions continue to push the Bootleg Fire

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Bootleg Fire update for July 14, 2021

Oregon National Guard fire crews arrive to assist Bootleg Fire. (Image: Inciweb)

Oregon National Guard fire crews arrive to assist Bootleg Fire. (Image: Inciweb)

FIRE DETAILS

Cause:
Under investigation

Size:
212,377 Acres

Containment: 5%

Location:
North of the communities of Sprague River & Beatty, Ore.

Resources:
Personnel: 1,338
Hotshot Crews: 3
Type II Attack Crews: 6
Type II Crews: 10
Hand crews: 22
Structure Task Forces: 14
Engines: 133
Dozers: 9
Water Tenders: 32
Other Heavy Equip: 3

Assigned Aircraft: 10

Structures Threatened: 1,926

Fuels:
Heavy Timber, grass, and understory.

Incident Commanders:
Al Lawson
Lance Lightly

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

Estimated Containment:
November 30, 2021

Last Updated:
3:00 PM, July 14, 2021

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

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - Dry and windy conditions contributed to another day of active fire behavior on the Bootleg Fire burning in Southern Oregon. Firefighters reported growth primarily to the east in the greater Gearhart Wilderness area. Air operations were severely limited due to unsafe flying conditions in heavy smoke.

“We’re making steady progress where winds and terrain allow,” said Rob Allen, Incident Commander for PNW2 Incident Management Team. “But for the third day in a row, firefighters had to disengage at times for their safety and weather isn’t going to change for the foreseeable future.”

On the ground, firefighters improved existing dozer and hand containment lines in the Fuego Mountain area. Crews took advantage of favorable conditions overnight to ‘burnout’ along these lines, significantly diminishing the potential for future fire growth toward the west in future weeks and leaving a solid containment line for the community of Chiloquin and Highway 97 in the area.

To the south and east, crews took advantage of yesterday’s inversion to make continued progress on improving dozer and other containment lines. Crews conducted ‘burnout’ operations overnight to strengthen those lines and increase containment. While the fire did not make expansive ‘runs’ as it did in past days, west winds continued to push fire growth toward the greater Snake and Round Butte areas under Red Flag conditions.

Community Meeting
A virtual community meeting is planned for 6:30 PM, July 14, 2021. Watch the live stream at www.facebook.com/BootlegFireInfo.

Bootleg Fire Briefing Map (July 14, 2021)
Click to enlarge. Download PDF

EVACUATION INFORMATION

Evacuations are rapidly changing due to the nature of this wildfire. Visit the interactive evacuations map at klamathfallsnews.org/bootleg-fire-evacuations.

Evacuation Center
Klamath County Fairgrounds (in Klamath Falls), South 6th Street entrance only.


CLOSURES

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


SMOKE

Heavy smoke expected July 14, 2021 with widespread impacts to communities and State Route 140 in Oregon between Chiloquin and Bly. Full report at: fires.airfire.org/outlooks/southcentraloregon.

Aerial View of Bootleg Fire by Thom Taylor (Inciweb)

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

Extreme, crowning, running, spotting. Fire remains very active with significant acreage increases due to hot, dry, and breezy conditions. Poor humidity recovery at night is contributing to active fire spread through the night time period. Robust spread rates are being generated by drought-affected fuels. Expecting similar conditions for the next several days.

PROJECTED INCIDENT ACTIVITY

The fire will continue to be extremely active in unchecked portions of the perimeter, with unstable air conditions and extremely dry fuels.

Red Flag Warning due to Haines 6 conditions and with current fire activity. Significant acreage increase on the eastern side of the fire.

Rapid fire spread with high intensity fire behavior due to dry fuels and Haines 6 atmosphere (hot, dry, unstable). Large acreage increase today will be contribute to visible smoke column and downwind visibility concerns. Spread direction will be dictated primarily by wind direction, topography, and drought-stressed fuels. Continued persistent drought and dry conditions will encourage spotting.

Information is provided by the Fremont-Winema National Forest, Klamath County Emergency Management, Oregon Department of Forestry, and Northwest IMT 10 is current as of 3:00 PM, July 14, 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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