Fast moving Bootleg Fire “progresses 4 to 5 miles per day”
/Bootleg Fire update for July 17, 2021
A skidgen works Division K of the #BootlegFire on July 16, 2021. Image: PNW2
FIRE DETAILS
Cause:
Under Investigation
Size:
281,208 Acres
Containment: 22%
Location:
28 Miles northeast of Klamath Falls, Ore.
Resources:
Personnel: 2,106
Fuels:
Heavy Timber, grass, and understory.
Initial Report:
1:45 PM, July 6, 2021
Last Updated:
10:30 AM, July 16, 2021
Bootleg Fire Public Information Map (July 16, 2021)
Click to enlarge. Download PDF.
Coverage of the 2021 Wildfire Season is brought to you by Ace Towing.
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - Smoke cleared early around the Bootleg Fire yesterday due to increased southwest winds, which allowed air operations to support the firefighting efforts on the ground. Firefighters utilized retardant drops and water bucket work along the northern flank and southeast corner of the fire. Crews are utilizing Sam’s Cabin Road and the 27 Road to stop fire growth to the north.
The fire also remains very active on the southeastern corner towards Grouse Prairie. Crews will continue to conduct burnout operations on this southeast corner if conditions allow. Structure protection resources will protect and secure structures in this area as necessary.
Div K Strategic firing operations by PIO J Mike Johnson. July 16, 2021
“This fire is large and moving so fast, every day it progresses four to five miles,” said Incident Commander Joe Hassel, “One of the many challenges that our firefighters face every day is working in new country that can present new hazards all the time.”
The entire south and southwest portion of the fireline has been held in check for the last several days, leading to the significant increase in containment. Evacuation status has been reduced in most of the communities in Klamath County along that flank. Crews will be seen along this portion of the fire as they continue to patrol and hold the area.
New evacuation levels were implemented and increased yesterday in areas of Lake County east of the fire.
Community Meeting
There will be an in-person community meeting at the Paisley Community Center (705 Chewaucan Street, Paisley, OR 97636) Saturday, July 17, 2021, at 6:30 PM.
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 are available here.
SMOKE
Substantial smoke impacts likely in the vicinity of Paisley and Frenchglen and moderate impacts in the Lakeview area. Air quality will improve significantly in communities to the north, west, and south/southwest of the fire. Full report at: fires.airfire.org/outlooks/southcentraloregon.
SIGNIFICANT EVENTS
Extreme, crowning, running, spotting. Fire remains very active with significant acreage increases due to hot, dry, and breezy conditions, and plume-dominated fire behavior. 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.
HOW BIG IS THE FIRE?
As of today, July 16, 2021, the Bootleg Fire is the largest fire burning in the United States at 241,497 acres. The fire is equal to 377.3 square miles. That is larger than the entirety of Crater Lake National Park, and nearly 16 times the size of the 242 Fire that burned in Chiloquin last summer.
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 10:00 AM, July 17, 2021.
Klamath Falls News will continue to follow the situation and provide updates as they become available.
MORE INFO: Cascade Firewatch: Bootleg Fire 2021
Klamath Falls News & Cascade Firewatch’s coverage of the 2021 Wildfire Season is brought to you by Ace Towing.
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