Patton Meadow and Willow Valley Fires now under unified command as Fox Complex

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Fox Complex update for August 14, 2021.

The lightning sparked Patton Meadow Fire burns 10 miles west of Lakeview, Oregon. (Image: Ryan Niemi)

The lightning sparked Patton Meadow Fire burns 10 miles west of Lakeview, Oregon. (Image: Ryan Niemi)

FOX COMPLEX DETAILS

Patton Meadow
Cause: Lightning
Size: 4,100 Acres

Willow Valley
Cause: Lightning
Size: 770 Acres

Containment: 10%

Resources
Personnel: 254
Hand crews: 3
Engines: 32
Dozers: 4
Tenders: 6
Other: 2

Aircraft
Helicopters: 8
SEATs: 3

Structures
Task Forces: 3
Threatened: n/a
Damaged: n/a
Destroyed: n/a

Location:
10 Miles W of Lakeview, Ore.

Start Date:
August 12, 2021

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

LAKEVIEW, Ore. – The Fox Complex, which includes the Patton Meadow and Willow Valley fires, is now under the unified command of the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Incident Management Team 3 and Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Blue Team.

The arrival of the two teams brings in additional overhead capacity and firefighting resources. The teams are setting up their incident command post at the Lake County Fairgrounds and working on arrangements for a forward operating base for crews and amenities to support them.

Patton Meadow Fire
The Patton Meadow Fire is burning on the Fremont-Winema National Forest and private lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry about 10 miles west of Lakeview. Fire behavior picked up overnight as winds out of the north pushed the fire over and to the south of Highway 140 and west of the 383 road. Night crews and dozers were able to corral the fire in both areas and will continue to strengthen those lines throughout today.

Current mapping shows the fire at about 4,100 acres.

OSFM’s Blue Team is supporting the effort by providing structure protection around homes along Hwy 140 with 7 structural taskforces and 2 more taskforces arriving today. The crews will assess homes, create defensible space around the homes when feasible, and assist wildland firefighting crews in creating containment lines that will help protect structures.

Willow Valley Fire
The Willow Valley Fire, about 16 miles south of Bonanza, is estimated at about 770 acres. The fire is burning mostly on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Lakeview District lands north of the Stateline, as well as part of the Modoc National Forest to the south. ODF protected lands are threatened. No structures are threatened on the Willow Valley Fire.

With the teams still getting established, resources are on order and beginning to trickle in. Four large, type 1 helicopters are also expected to arrive this afternoon.

 

- EVACUATIONS

Evacuation information for the Patton Meadow Fire.

Evacuation information for the Patton Meadow Fire.

Lake County Sheriff’s Office is managing evacuation levels. Level 1, 2 and 3 evacuation notifications are in place within and around the fire area. Stay up to date on evacuation levels by visiting https://www.facebook.com/Lake-County-Oregon-104435824529906.

  • Level 3 - “Go” Evacuations

    • Highway 140w at Juniper RV Park to Antelope Valley Ranch.

    • All of Drews Gap, on both sides of Oregon State Highway 140.

  • Level 2 - “Be Set” Evacuations

    • West of Antelope Valley Rancy to Tracy Loop.

    • North of Highway 140 from Juniper RV to Lower Cottonwood.

  • Level 1 - “Be Ready” Evacuations

    • 140 west south to Andy Hill Road

    • West on Andy Hill Road to Dog Lake Lake, to Dog Creek Bridge

    • All Residences at Drews Reservoir

    • Tracy Loop to Upper Cottonwood Road.

    • East to Lower Cottonwood Rood to Cottonwood Creek

- FIRE PHOTOS

Additional fire photos by Ryan Niemi.

Information is provided by the Fox Complex Incident Command is current as of 12:00 PM, August 14, 2021.

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.

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