Fire Managers fighting Bootleg Fire on two zones
/Bootleg Fire update for July 12, 2021
Active fire on the #BootlegFire. July 10, 2021. (Image: Inciweb)
FIRE DETAILS
Cause:
Under investigation
Size:
153,535 Acres
Containment: 0%
Location:
North of the communities of Sprague River & Beatty, Ore.
Resources:
Personnel: 1,027
Hotshot Crews: 3
Type II Attack Crews: 6
Type II Crews: 10
Hand crews: 19
Structure Task Forces: 14
Engines: 109
Dozers: 9
Water Tenders: 33
Aircraft:
Helicopters 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:
3:30 PM, July 12, 2021
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BEATTY, Ore. - Due to the size and complexity of the Bootleg Fire, the fire will be managed using two zones—this will allow the incident management teams to better manage the fire and limit travel for firefighters.
ODF Incident Management Team 1 took command of the fire’s south part, or Zone 1, today. Pacific Northwest Team 10 manages the north part, or Zone 2. Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal’s Green Team continues to protect structures.
After three days of explosive growth, a smoke inversion moderated fire activity and allowed fire crews to construct and improve fire control lines yesterday. Rather than doubling in size like prior days, the fire added 5,000 acres to the perimeter raising the total acreage to just above 150,000.
ZONE 1 UPDATE
The control lines on the southern edge of the fire kept the fire in check overnight.
Near communities of Klamath Forest Estates, Moccasin Hills, and Tablelands, crews used the favorable conditions to build and connect dozer lines, extinguish hot spots near structures, and assess fire damaged tree hazards. More crews will be working night shift as overnight temperatures moderate fire activity, allowing crews to make more progress.
In the east, crews continue to work in Sycan Estates area to extinguish hot spots and remove fire damaged trees near structures. Power companies are inspecting damage to the high voltage powerlines to determine if they can safely return power to those lines.
Along the eastern flank, crews are scouting new locations for safe, effective primary and secondary containment lines.
ZONE 2 UPDATE
Firefighting and containment efforts continue through the day. Tonight, like in Zone 1, more crews will work the night shift. Crews on the west side are connecting containment lines along forest roads to prepare for a controlled burn to enforce those lines.
Along the north, crews are scouting new locations for safe, effective primary and secondary containment lines too.
STRUCTURAL TASK FORCE UPDATE
Crews from structural fire departments continue focusing on protecting structures and residences. Firefighters are identifying, triaging, and removing brush and small trees around homes outside the fire’s south and east sides.
Protecting homes has been a team effort between structure firefighters and wildland fire crews to save homes. Quick actions from crews on the ground prevented numerous homes from catching fire during nighttime ember showers.
Structure resources will continue to patrol and identify structures at risk. They are starting to assess damage and looking for damaged or destroyed structures.
Bootleg Fire IR Map (July 12, 2021)
Map courtesy, National Infrared Operations. Click to enlarge. Download PDF.
EVACUATION INFORMATION
Due to rapid-fire movement, evacuation areas and levels are being updated as conditions change. The fastest way to find the latest information on evacuations is to subscribe to the Klamath County Sherriff’s office Emergency Alerts at: http://Alerts.KlamathCounty.org and/or visit the evacuation map.
Evacuation Center
Klamath County Fairgrounds (in Klamath Falls), South 6th Street entrance only.
Level 3 (GO NOW) Evacuation Notice
Klamath County, north of the town of Beatty. East side of Godowa Springs Rd north of the OC and E Trail to the Klamath County Line need to leave immediately.
Klamath County, near the town of Sprague River. Upper tableland area north of Oregon Pines Rd need to leave immediately.
Level 2 (GET SET) Evacuation Notice
Klamath County, near the town of Sprague River. Klamath Forrest Estates/Moccasin Hills Area need to be prepared to leave.
Klamath County, West side of Godowa Springs Rd, south of Oregon Pines Rd and Tableland Rd. to the river need to be prepared to leave.
Level 1 (BE READY) Evacuation Notice
Klamath County, Between Beatty and Bly 3 miles south of Highway 140 from Yellow Jacket Springs to Fishhole Creek need to be ready in case.
Klamath County, the area from the intersection of Sprague River Rd and Forbes Rd extending east to Godowa Springs and Yellow Jacket Springs and south of the Sprague River 4 miles need to be ready in case.
The Klamath County Sheriff’s Office started to issue citations and will make arrests if necessary to keep people out of the Level 3 evacuation areas.
SMOKE
New fires in Oregon and northern California are contributing to smoke from the Bootleg fire, with the probability of increasing the smoke layer. If you are sensitive to smoke, check air quality levels at: https://fires.airfire.org/outlooks/southcentraloregon.
CLOSURES
Map of the Emergency Fire Closure [click to enlarge]
The Fremont-Winema National Forest has issued a closure area on National Forest System land between Forest Roads 4542 and 45 on the western edge, north to the Forest Boundary at Head of the River Campground, then following the Forest Boundary east to the Sycan Marsh area, then south around Forest Road 30, also known as Ivory Pine Road, down along the Forest Boundary, before turning west and following to Forest Road 44 and then north to the junction with Forest Road 4542.
Additionally, Forest Road 44 is closed from Sprague River Road east to the junction with Forest Road 4542.
Forest Road 30 is closed as a result of the order. Those traveling into the area from the east side are advised to not go further west on Forest Road 30 than the junction with Forest Road 28 at Currier Guard Station.
Head of the River Campground, Sycan Ford Picnic Area and Horseglade Trailhead are within the closure area.
HOW BIG IS THE BOOTLEG FIRE?
As of today, July 11, 2021, the Bootleg Fire is the largest fire burning in the State of Oregon at 143,607 acres. The fire is equal to 224.4 square miles. That is larger than the Archie Creek fire in Douglas County in 2020 but smaller than the entirety of Crater Lake National Park, and ten 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 3:30 PM, July 12, 2021.
Klamath Falls News will continue to follow the situation and provide updates as they become available.
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