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Fire Information: As of Saturday, July 31, the Jack Fire has burned 23,004 acres and is 63 percent contained. The fire is burning in steep, rugged terrain that is difficult to access, and it continues to be a challenge for firefighting operations.     Fire behavior on the Jack Fire is most active south of Hwy 138 in the east, southeast, and south flank of the fire. Crews there are conducting firefighting operations as conditions allow, including at the 4770 road, on the 28 road, along the 530 road to Twin Lakes, and near Calf Creek. As burn operations occur, please be aware smoke may be visible to the public. North of Hwy 138, firefighters are successfully holding control lines and continuing mop-up, patrol, and monitoring activities on the northeast, north, and west perimeters of the fire.     Due to the multiple small fire starts over the last two days, which ignited in a remote location along the Upper Steamboat Creek Drainage, fire officials have established a complex. Newly...

 Sweet Home, Oregon – Today, the South Cascade Interagency Type 3 Team will work on mitigating hazards in and around the fire perimeter. Additionally, they will continue to run sprinklers, mop-up, and strengthen contingency lines. Some of this work will be completed in about three days. Fire activity is expected to be moderate again given current weather conditions. Containment is at 53%. We would like to thank everyone who has supported and cooperated with us on this fire.   The Willamette National Forest will maintain its large closure area to continue to prioritize safety of the public and firefighters. We would like to ask the public to respect this order. By following this order, you are helping to alleviate some of the stress placed on our firefighters.   The BLM closure order for the Quartzville Backcountry Byway (up to MP 25) was lifted yesterday. The closure may be reactivated at any time as needs warrant. Campfires are currently prohibited on Willamette National...

Wallowa, OR – The Elbow Creek Fire showed no growth over the last 24 hours and now stands at 22,960 acres. Containment has reached 64 percent.The fire did flare up within containment lines yesterday as extreme heat, single-digit humidity and light winds increased fire behavior in unburned fuels. Because the fire activity was well within containment lines, firefighters had little concern. Just to be sure, however, two helicopters worked in unison to keep the fire in place. As mop-up operations continue, so too does the contingency work on the north side of the fire, with crews improving roads and removing roadside vegetation in the event a backup fire break be needed. A Red Flag Warning has been issued for this afternoon through Sunday.  Thunderstorms are expected to develop over the area with erratic winds and chances for abundant lightning. There is also a high probability of heavy rainfall that could bring between ¼ and ¾ of an inch of rain. Evacuation levels within Wallowa...

Bootleg Update July 31, 2021   Location: 28 miles northeast of Klamath Falls, OR    Size: 413,562 acres Personnel: 1,918   Containment: 56%  (Klamath Falls, OR) – “At this point in the fire, we have to think about two things,” says Fire Behavior Analyst Chris Moore, “the fire we know about and the fire we don’t know.” The fire we know is the actively and recently burned portions of the Bootleg Fire. Much of the recent fire activity has been torching and burning pockets of fuel within the burn area. While the fire is not yet contained, a fire line has been constructed around the entire perimeter. Now crews are working to ensure that perimeter holds (is secured) to contain the fire. In some places, fire line is 100 to 150 feet wide from the unburned into the burned area. But some places may require as much as 300 feet to confidently expect the fire to remain contained.  Along the south, west, and east perimeters, crews...

Lick Creek and Green Ridge Fire Updates – July 31, 2021 – 8:00 a.m. There is a Red Flag Weather Warning in effect this afternoon and evening for thunderstorms. Heavy rain and gusty/erratic winds possible with thunderstorms. Lick Creek Fire: A Burn Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team will continue working on the Lick Creek Fire. This assessment will be used for long-range forecasting and preparation of the areas at greatest risk for runoff and flooding. This fire remains at 90% contained. Continued smoke will be visible as unburned    pockets of vegetation inside the fire area are consumed. Crews will continue to mop up pockets of heat interior and patrol the perimeter until full containment is achieved. Green Ridge Fire Current Situation: The local region experienced unstable weather conditions yesterday, but only isolated areas of fire experienced growth. Portions of the fire where most of the activity occurred are northeast of the Meadow Creek Trailhead and north of West...

Lick Creek and Green Ridge Fire Updates – July 31, 2021 – 8:00 a.m.   There is a Red Flag Weather Warning in effect this afternoon and evening for thunderstorms. Heavy rain and gusty/erratic winds possible with thunderstorms.   Lick Creek Fire: A Burn Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team will continue working on the Lick Creek Fire. This assessment will be used for long-range forecasting and preparation of the areas at greatest risk for runoff and flooding. This fire remains at 90% contained. Continued smoke will be visible as unburned    pockets of vegetation inside the fire area are consumed. Crews will continue to mop up pockets of heat interior and patrol the perimeter until full containment is achieved.   Green Ridge Fire Current Situation: The local region experienced unstable weather conditions yesterday, but only isolated areas of fire experienced growth. Portions of the fire where most of the activity occurred are northeast of the Meadow Creek Trailhead and north of...

ORDER NO. 06-02-21-07 FIRE AREA EMERGENCY CLOSURE FREMONT-WINEMA NATIONAL FOREST Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 551, 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(a) and (b), the following acts are prohibited on National Forest System lands and roads within the following described area on the Fremont-Winema National Forest, Bly, Chemult, Chiloquin, Lakeview, Paisley and Silver Lake Ranger Districts, as described in the attached Exhibit A. This Order becomes effective on July 27, 2021, and will remain in effect through December 31, 2021, or until rescinded. This order supersedes and rescinds order #06-02-21-05 signed by Forest Supervisor Barry Imler on July 12, 2021. PROHIBITIONS: 1. Going onto or being within an area closed for public health and safety. 36 CFR § 261.53 (e) 2. Being upon a closed road. 36 CFR § 261.54 (e) The area described below will be closed to public access/entry due to hazards and hazardous conditions created as a result of the Bootleg Fire. AFFECTED AREA/CLOSURE AREA: All National Forest System...

News ReleaseFor Immediate ReleaseJuly 30, 2021Media Contacts: Tamara Schmidt Cell: 541-891-6758 tamara.schmidt@usda.gov   David N. Duncan Cell: 541-219-0515 david.n.duncan@usda.gov Lightning response and fire preparedness in South Central Oregon this weekend LAKEVIEW, Ore. – The agencies of the South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership (SCOFMP) are responding to lightning fires sparked by storms this week and hosting additional firefighting resources to help with initial attack in the coming days and weeks.   Since Monday, wildland firefighting resources have responded to 13 confirmed lightning fires, with the largest being just under 2 acres.  Four of the fires have been declared contained and controlled, two are contained, and the remaining fires are still active.   Yesterday’s thunderstorm activity produced 165 cloud-to-ground lightning strikes in Klamath County, with 10 in Lake County. A Red Flag Warning is in effect today until 11 p.m. over a large part of the...

 Sweet Home, Oregon – South Cascade Interagency Type 3 Team will continue to mop-up with hose lays, sprinklers, and pumps around the fire perimeter. For the north contingency line, wood debris will continue to be pulled out to create a stronger firebreak, which will take about 3 to 4 more days.  For the south contingency, available fuels that the fire could spread to will continue to be removed, which will take about 5 days. Additionally, dangerous snags (standing dead trees) will be felled, which lessens hazards for firefighters in the area and reduces smoke by removing some of the smoldering material. The fire danger level remains at “very high”, and there is a Red Flag Warning in the area for today. Containment is 53%.  The Willamette National Forest will maintain its large closure area to continue to prioritize safety of the public and firefighters. We would like to remind the public that this closure means that there will be absolutely no public access to the area past...

Lake County Sheriff’s Office Media ReleaseJuly 30, 2021, 1:00 p.m.For Immediate Release Contact: Melanie Lasley(541) 947-6003mlasley@co.lake.or.usLakeview, OR – Evacuations. Evacuation levels have not changed in Lake County since July 28. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management are heavily engaged with the fire’s incident management team and constantly assessing the need to raise or lower evacuation levels to keep residents safe.Critical fire weather is forecast in the Bootleg Fire area for the next several days, which may cause more active fire behavior, and/or include new lightning starts. County leadership and fire teams ask that Lake County residents remain vigilant to potential wildfire hazards. In particular, areas along Highway 31 north of Monument Rock and south of the community of Summer Lake, the majority of which are currently in a Level 2 evacuation, should “Be Set” to evacuate if necessary. In short, the Bootleg Fire is still a long way from...

Fire Information: As of Friday, July 30, the Jack Fire has burned 22,491 acres and is 62 percent contained. The fire is burning in steep, rugged terrain that is difficult to access, and it continues to be a challenge for firefighting operations.Current fire behavior is most active south of Hwy 138 in the east, southeast, and south flank of the fire. Crews there are conducting firefighting operations as conditions allow, including at the 4770 road, on the 28 road, along the 530 road to Twin Lakes, and near Calf Creek. If burn operations occur, please be aware that smoke may be visible to the public. North of Hwy 138, firefighters are successfully holding the control lines and continuing mop-up, patrol, and monitoring activities on the northeast, north, and west perimeters of the fire.Other small fires have ignited in a remote location in the Canton Creek Roadless Area, approximately 10 miles north of the Jack Fire. These fires are associated with lightning storms that recently passed...

Actualizacion del Incendio de Bootleg Julio 30, 2021 Localización: 28 millas noreste de Klamath Falls, OR                                          Tamaño: 413,545 acres Personal: 1,928                                                                                                          Contención:  53%  (Klamath Falls, OR) – - Ayer, fue otro día con actividad de fuego elevada y hoy se espera lo mismo. La mayoría de las llamaradas fueron en bolsillos de combustibles forestales que se estaban quemando. En la esquina noroeste, se completó la construcción para unir la línea al norte de Round Butte y se continúa trabajando para mejorarla. Las cuadrillas están utilizando tendidos de mangueras, liquidación y patrullaje para contener y mejorar la línea. El jefe de la Sección de Operaciones, Brad Washa,...

Wallowa, OR – The water is flowing across all divisions of the Elbow Creek Fire 17 miles northwest of Wallowa. Fire crews have fully transitioned to mop-up and an increase in the number of water tenders will keep the water flowing to help firefighters soak the remains of the fire over the next several days.The fire is 22,955 acres and 57% contained. A 10-person crew made it halfway down over the rim yesterday towards the bottom of the Grande Ronde River Canyon in the Elbow Creek drainage. They will continue to the bottom of the canyon today to seek and destroy hot spots along the river. The depth of mop-up, or how far crews should go in from the fire’s edge, is based on the fuels and the heat they hold. Grass for instance, doesn’t hold heat for very long, and poses less of a threat of tossing embers over containment lines in coming weeks. Whereas heavier fuels, such as downed logs and stumps, can hold heat for weeks and even months. Areas covered with heavier fuels may require...

There was a community meeting last night in Pomeroy that was recorded and posted to the Green Ridge Fire Facebook page.Lick Creek Fire: A Burn Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team will continue working on the Lick Creek Fire. This assessment will be used for long range forecasting and preparation of the areas at greatest risk for runoff and flooding. This fire remains at 90% contained. Continued smoke will be visible as unburned pockets of vegetation inside the fire area are consumed. Crews will continue to mop up pockets of heat interior and patrol the perimeter until full containment is achieved.Green Ridge Fire Current Situation: Hot, dry, unstable weather conditions yesterday caused increased fire activity. Heavy fuels and fire alignment with steep slopes allowed for fire spread in west, south and east portions of the fire. With yesterday’s fire growth, forecasted weather and fire behavior today, the fire team and county emergency managers made the decision to issue additional...

There was a community meeting last night in Pomeroy that was recorded and posted to the Green Ridge Fire Facebook page. Lick Creek Fire: A Burn Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team will continue working on the Lick Creek Fire. This assessment will be used for long range forecasting and preparation of the areas at greatest risk for runoff and flooding. This fire remains at 90% contained. Continued smoke will be visible as unburned pockets of vegetation inside the fire area are consumed. Crews will continue to mop up pockets of heat interior and patrol the perimeter until full containment is achieved. Green Ridge Fire Current Situation: Hot, dry, unstable weather conditions yesterday caused increased fire activity. Heavy fuels and fire alignment with steep slopes allowed for fire spread in west, south and east portions of the fire. With yesterday’s fire growth, forecasted weather and fire behavior today, the fire team and county emergency managers made the decision to issue additional...

 Bootleg Update July 30, 2021   Location: 28 miles northeast of Klamath Falls, OR    Size: 413,545 acres Personnel: 1,928                                 Containment: 53%  (Klamath Falls, OR) – Yesterday was another day of elevated fire activity and the same is expected today. Most flare ups were interior pockets of fuel burning out. In the northwest corner, construction was completed to join the line north of Round Butte and work continues to improve it. Crews are using hose lays, mop up, and patrol to contain and improve the line. Ops Section Chief Brad Washa reported that there remains approximately 160 miles of uncontained line in a fire that has over 300 miles of perimeter. When fuels, weather, and topography align, there is high potential for aggressive fire spread. Previous spot fires are contained and inactive, but concerns remain for potential out-flow winds associated with...

RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 11 PM PDT THIS EVENING FOR ABUNDANT LIGHTNING ON DRY FUELS · Impacts: Lightning on dry vegetation will likely result in new fire starts. Gusty thunderstorm winds could contribute to fire spread. Despite rainfall with storms, initial attack resources could be overwhelmed and holdover fires are possible. · Affected areas: In South Central OR Fire Weather Zones...624 and 625 including the communities of Klamath Falls, Chemult, Bly, and Lakeview. View the hazard area in detail at:   https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/mfr/HAZARD Precautionary/preparedness actions... Avoid tossing burning cigarettes on the ground, parking hot vehicles on dry vegetation, and using equipment that can cause sparks. Follow all fire restrictions. Find links to restrictions at weather.gov/medford/wildfire. One less spark, one less wildfire. Gather your fire evacuation kit now. Collect essentials you don`t want to lose and prioritize your...

On July 29, 2021, at 8:30 p.m. the Columbia County Sheriff's Department has extended the Level I evacuation notice and issued a Level II evacuation notice. A Level II evacuation notice for the following areas:• South of the previous Level I evacuation notice within Columbia County. This Level II evacuation notice extends east to the Forest Boundary including Bald Butte Mountain and south down to the Columbia County/Wallowa County state border. It extends west to the forest boundary and north to Chase Mountain. From Chase Mountain, it will extend to Middle Point Trail Head through to Midway Campground.LEVEL II – Yellow, SET You should be alert and ready to leave this area at any time. If you are concerned about your safety or believe you are in danger, do not wait for an official evacuation order – leave immediately. To prepare for evacuation, you should arrange for transportation or other mobility assistance, relocate livestock or large animals out of the area, and pack...

On July 29, 2021, at 8:30 p.m. the Columbia County Sheriff's Department has extended the Level I evacuation notice and issued a Level II evacuation notice. A Level II evacuation notice for the following areas:• South of the previous Level I evacuation notice within Columbia County. This Level II evacuation notice extends east to the Forest Boundary including Bald Butte Mountain and south down to the Columbia County/Wallowa County state border. It extends west to the forest boundary and north to Chase Mountain. From Chase Mountain, it will extend to Middle Point Trail Head through to Midway Campground.LEVEL II – Yellow, SET You should be alert and ready to leave this area at any time. If you are concerned about your safety or believe you are in danger, do not wait for an official evacuation order – leave immediately. To prepare for evacuation, you should arrange for transportation or other mobility assistance, relocate livestock or large animals out of the area, and pack...

The National Weather Service in Medford has Issued a Red Flag Warning, which is in effect from 2pm to 11pm PDT Friday. The Fire Weather watch is No Longer in Effect.· Impacts: Lightning and Dry Vegetation will Likely Result in New Fire Starts. Gusty thunderstorm winds Could Contribute to Fire Spread. Despite Rainfall, Initial Attack Resources Could Be Overwhelmed and Holdover Fires are Possible.· Affected Area: South Central or the Southwestern Half and Southeast Corner Of Fire Zone 625. This includes the Bootleg Fire.· Wind: Northwest 5 to 10 MPH with Gusts to 15 MPH, Except Gusty, Shifting winds are Likely near Thunderstorms.· View the Hazard area in Detail At:  https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/mfr/hazardGather your Fire Evacuation Kit Now. Collect Essentials you Don't Want to Lose and Prioritize your Checklist. Visit Ready.gov/kit for More Information.Familiarize Yourself with your Evacuation Plan. Where will you Go?  How will you Get There? Who will you...