161 Residences destroyed in Bootleg Fire

161 Residences destroyed in Bootleg Fire

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - This morning the Alaska Incident Management Team assumed leadership of the Bootleg Fire after several days of transition with the other teams. Incident Commander Norm McDonald thanked the Pacific Northwest Team 2, Oregon State Fire Marshal Red Team, and Oregon Department of Forestry Team 1 for leaving us in such a good position.

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Containment at 42% on the Bootleg Fire; Tornado confirmed on the fire last Saturday

Containment at 42% on the Bootleg Fire; Tornado confirmed on the fire last Saturday

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - Yesterday, fireline construction progressed north from Long Creek toward Coyote Creek. The day shift was able to hold the fireline from the 400 Road to the south despite some active fire behavior that was pushing to the north and west. Night shift was able to work the area between Long Creek and Coyote Creek and construct direct fireline with dozers, hand crews, and hose lay

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Bootleg Fire tops 400,000 acres; New evacuations in Lake County

Bootleg Fire tops 400,000 acres; New evacuations in Lake County

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - The Oregon State Fire Marshall Incident Management Team has transitioned to working with Zone 2 on the north and northeast sections of the fire. Yesterday, the fireline into Long Creek was improved with hose lay and overnight firefighters were able to begin constructing a direct line between Long Creek and Coyote Creek. Crews continue to work on the contingency lines in the northern portion of the fire above Sycan Marsh.

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Higher humidity and reduced wind help firefighters on the Bootleg Fire

Higher humidity and reduced wind help firefighters on the Bootleg Fire

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - Higher humidity and reduced wind speeds yesterday and overnight allowed firefighters to construct and improve firelines. Today’s forecast will be favorable to continue those efforts in securing the existing fireline. A steady warming and drying trend will begin today and continue into the weekend which can affect fire activity in the upcoming days.

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Firefighters to continue constructing and improving firelines on the 394,000-acre Bootleg Fire

Firefighters to continue constructing and improving firelines on the 394,000-acre Bootleg Fire

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - The weather moderated yesterday with reduced wind speeds, lower temperatures, and slightly higher humidity, which allowed firefighters to continue constructing and improving firelines. Weather conditions are favorable again today for the efforts to secure the existing fireline.

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Bootleg Fire grows 84,000 acres, despite a trace of rain

Bootleg Fire grows 84,000 acres, despite a trace of rain

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - For ten days in a row, extreme fire behavior in the afternoon and evening has resulted in firefighters moving to safety zones. Yesterday evening, parts of the fire received a trace amount of rain from thunderstorms in the area. While the main Bootleg Fire merged with the Log Fire as anticipated.

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Bootleg Fire sees 9th day in a row of extreme fire behavior

Bootleg Fire sees 9th day in a row of extreme fire behavior

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.

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Fast moving Bootleg Fire “progresses 4 to 5 miles per day”

Fast moving Bootleg Fire “progresses 4 to 5 miles per day”

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.

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Bootleg Fire perimeter over 200 miles long and growing

Bootleg Fire perimeter over 200 miles long and growing

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - For the fourth day in a row, firefighters withdrew from leading edges of the Bootleg Fire as extreme fire conditions fueled expansive fire growth. In the late afternoon, a large pyrocumulus cloud ‘collapsed’ further spreading embers to the east of the main fire and prompting additional evacuation notices for the communities of Summer Lake and Spring Lake in Lake County.

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Bootleg Fire reaches Gearhart Wilderness

Bootleg Fire reaches Gearhart Wilderness

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - Firefighters reported another day of extreme fire behavior including torching, running, and frequent spotting ahead of the main fire including growth into the Gearhart Wilderness and north towards Lake Henry.

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Dry, windy conditions continue to push the Bootleg Fire

Dry, windy conditions continue to push the Bootleg Fire

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.

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Bootleg Fire grows another 50,000 acres; new evacuations in Lake County

Bootleg Fire grows another 50,000 acres; new evacuations in Lake County

BEATTY, Ore. - The Bootleg Fire burned another 50,000 acres yesterday. Infrared mapping shows the fire size at 201,923 acres. The fire grew by more than three miles, fueled by extreme drought conditions, single digit humidity, and high temperatures.

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Fire Managers fighting Bootleg Fire on two zones

Fire Managers fighting Bootleg Fire on two zones

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.

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Extreme fire conditions continue on the Bootleg Fire

Extreme fire conditions continue on the Bootleg Fire

KLAMATH COUNTY, Ore. - After the fifth extreme fire day in a row firefighters had to retreat as the flames became too much yesterday. The intense fire behavior escalated in the afternoon, resulting in immediate life-threatening risk to the public and emergency responder safety.

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Extreme fire behavior causes retreat by firefighters

Extreme fire behavior causes retreat by firefighters

CHILOQUIN, Ore. – Today firefighters, emergency managers, and other public safety officials faced the fifth day in a row of extreme, intense fire behavior on the Bootleg Fire, as hot, dry, windy weather persists in the area. These conditions escalated this afternoon, resulting in immediate, life-threatening risk to the safety of area residents, visitors, firefighters, and other emergency responders.

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After 4-days, Bootleg Fire now 76,897 acres

After 4-days, Bootleg Fire now 76,897 acres

KLAMATH COUNTY, Ore. - The Bootleg Fire continues to expand rapidly, exploding to 76,897 acres in just four days. Extreme fire conditions, Red Flag Warnings, shifting winds, steep terrain, and varied fuel loads have all played a factor in the rapid growth of the fire - that still has zero containment.

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Bootleg Fire doubles in size in 24-hours, now 38,892 acres

Bootleg Fire doubles in size in 24-hours, now 38,892 acres

The Bootleg Fire more than doubles in size in the last 24-hours, growing to 38,892 acres (over 60 square miles) with no containment. The fire burns on the Fremont-Winema National Forest and private lands north of the towns of Sprague River and Beatty.

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Northwest IMT 10 takes command of the 16,814 acre Bootleg Fire

Northwest IMT 10 takes command of the 16,814 acre Bootleg Fire

Northwest Incident Management Team 10 took command of the 16,814 acre Bootleg Fire at 6:00 AM this morning. The fire continues to burn 11 miles northeast of the town of Sprague River in the Fremont-Winema National Forest. The fire is 1% contained.

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