7:19 a.m. PDT July 7, 2021
The Bootleg Fire grew very, very rapidly after it started in southwest Oregon at about 1:42 p.m. Tuesday, putting up a huge plume of smoke pushed to the north during the afternoon. The spread was described as “extreme, running, torching, and spotting” by firefighters.
The fire is 21 miles east of Chiloquin, 29 miles northeast of Klamath Falls, and 11 miles northwest of Beatty. (see map above)
(To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Bootleg Fire, including the most recent, click HERE.)
Data from satellites at 4:18 a.m. Wednesday indicated that the Bootleg Fire had burned approximately 5,000 acres, and was active throughout the night.
Firefighters are being mobilized, including a Type 2 Incident Management Team, NW Team 10.
At the request of the Bootleg Fire Incident Commander, Klamath County Emergency Management has issued a Level 1 (GET READY) Evacuation notice for the Sycan Estates area north of the town of Beatty in eastern Klamath County. Level 1 is notice for residents in the affected area that wildfire is potentially near them and they should begin preparations to leave should the Incident Commander believe further increase in evacuation levels is warranted.
In addition, two property owners closer to the fire area were advised that their properties are under Level 2 (GET SET) evacuation notice. Level 2 is notice that the danger has dramatically increased and they need to be prepared to leave at any moment.
Stunning #pyrocumulus clouds above the #BootlegFire burning in Klamath County, Oregon, as seen from my flight this evening – just 7 hours after ingnition. #orwx #OregonFires pic.twitter.com/AnMFnu6nEY
— Kyle Montgomery (@KyletMontgomery) July 7, 2021
I am very concerned as to how many air tankers are being used to really drop fire retardant materials on the Bootleg fire as well as other fires. It seems that Oregon is always short of this kind of help. Are we simply going to allow all of this beautiful state burn to the ground. there is never any mention of what is happening to our precious wildlife. I am very disappointed with TV news reports, never enough information on the fires.
the Government Forest Services and the EPA (environmental pollution agency ) ARE responsible for these horrific fires , they don’t allow any fire breaks like 80 feet wide or thinning out the forest, and more , that they did years ago
The fire is spotting more than 1/2 mile ahead of the flaming front. It’s spotting much more than 80 feet on the flanks of the fire ( see the aerial photos from an earlier Twitter comment about the Bootleg Fire – they clearly show spot fires well away from the flanks). An 80 ft fuel break will not be effective in stopping a fire like this one. As to thinning, you apparently have not driven around the forest much; while they could do more, there are many examples of recently thinned areas. We are in a severe drought and have experienced record-breaking heat over the last month. The conditions on the day the fire started were hot, dry, windy and a Haines 6 (very unstable atmosphere). The fire is burning through dense and thinly forested stands.
EPA is Environmental Protection Agency
80 ft fire breaks probably don’t do much. I’ve seen prairie fires jump the Columbia River (average 1 mile wide), so while 80 ft is certainly helpful, it’s not a final solution … people are. Individuals. It takes many solutions to solve a complex problem.
Been there. Perfect Tractor & fire behind country. Why just watch.?
You’re right…most of Chiloquin District is good tractor and fire behind country under most conditions. I spent 11 years as DFMO/Division Chief on Chiloquin RD. Bootleg Fire is very reminiscent of the 1992 Lone Pine Fire (started just a month later on August 2nd about 13 miles west of Bootleg start). On IA of the Lone Pine Fire we had a dozer burned over due to spotting and rapid run back to fireline construction area (Dozer Operator was hospitalized, but recovered). Very dry conditions and unstable atmosphere (Haines 6). Bootleg fire had a Haines 6 the day it started and is almost as dry as the start date of the Lone Pine Fire. Bootleg Fire started midslope (SE aspect), Lone Pine Fire started on relatively flat ground. Lone Pine burned 3,000 acres the first day as did Bootleg. Bootleg is now over 16,000 acres on day three. I live in Chiloquin and drove out the first night to a vantage point. I don’t think they are “just watching” judging by the amount of equipment I’ve seen heading out there and the helicopters and airtanker activity.
Hey there, Tim! You might be interested to know some of the meteorological types spotted characteristics of a reverse flow under the plume the first day. The guy I chatted with said there wasn’t any real accessible way to confirm or deny the presence of a reverse flow until an IMET was on scene (perhaps). Hope you’re well.
Hey Michelle…I’ll check in with FBAN and IMET…the ICP is in Chiloquin and I’ve been watching some of the planning meetings.
Yeah Tim, so have we (grumble, grumble). I looked for you at the online meeting last night. Shades of Lone Pine for sure.
Some of the weather folks today noted rotation in the plume and some other signs of the magnitude of energy being released. I’m out of my depth, but it seems concerning.
The NIFC website and the Situation Report is back in service.
Here is another link option: https://fire.ak.blm.gov/content/aicc/sitreport/NICC%20Situation%20Report.pdf
Kind of related, but does anyone know why the latest Incident Management Situation Report is for July 4? Or is it a glitch on my end?
The NIFC website is broken. The sit report is at their Facebook page.
It is shameful that as we enter another fire season the USFS reporting and technology tools (Inciweb, NIFC, WFDSS, etc.) are riddled with errors and outages. The prime contractor Criterium Solutions is inept and wasting hundreds of millions of our taxpayer dollars. I’m not sure when if ever the USFS will grow a spine and hold them accountable.