Ward Fire holds thanks to firefighters and cooler than normal temperatures
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A thin layer of smoke from the #WardFire rises from the forest in southwestern Klamath County. Calm weather and cooler temperatures along with recent rains have helped keep the Ward Fires impacts minimal. August 11, 2019. (Image, Brian Gailey / Klamath Falls News)
Nearly 350 firefighters are now working to further strengthen fire lines on the Ward Fire located 13 miles southwest of Keno, Oregon along the Klamath River Canyon near the Oregon-California border.
The 1301-acre fire was started by lightening last Friday when a severe thunderstorm passed over the area. The fire instantly started growing due to topography and winds.
Containment is now 24%
Saturday, an Oregon Department of Forestry Type 2 Incident Management team took command of the fire establishing a fire camp at Keno Elementary School. Fire camp will be the home-away-from-home for firefighters, crews, personnel and more for the duration of the fire.
Today crews reinforced dozer lines surrounding the western, northern and eastern flanks of the fire. Crews began lining the fires south side, on the edge of the Klamath River Canyon. Additional fire crews patrolled the inside of the fire containment lines to extinguish spot fires within the forested area.
Warmer/dryer conditions and a return to normal temperatures are expected in the coming days with gusty winds possible on Tuesday.
Resources on the fire include 10 air attack helicopters, 10 hand crews, 10 engines, 4 dozers, 5 water tenders and 350 personnel.
Tomorrow fire crews will continue to patrol ans secure completed fire line. Continue laying hose on dozer lines and construct handlines along the rim of the canyon.
Map of the Ward Fire, August 11, 2019
Klamath Falls News coverage of the 2019 Wildfire Season is brought to you by Ace Towing.
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Ward Fire Details
Cause: Lightning
Size: 1301 acres
Containment: 24%
Location:
• 21 Miles southwest of Klamath Falls, Oregon
• 13 Miles west of Keno, Oregon
Resources:
• 348 Personnel
• 10 Hand Crews
• 19 Engines
• 6 Dozers
• 6 Water Tenders
• 5 Skidgines
• 1 Skidder
• 1 Fellerbuncher
• 10 Helicopters
Evacuations: None
Structures:
• Threatened: None
• Damaged: None
• Destroyed: None
Closures: None
Fuels:
• Timber
• Grass
• Brush