Single Publication

RED FIRE UPDATE
July 25, 2024
Fire Information Line - 541-316-7711

centraloregonfire.org    x.com/CentralORFire

Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-news/ordef-red-fire

Size: 389 acres    | Location: 5 miles west of Crescent Lake Junction, Oregon   
County: Klamath | Start Date: July 17, 2024  | Containment: 0%   | Cause: Lightning   
Total Personnel: 206

Klamath County, Oregon — The Red Fire is located within the Diamond Peak Wilderness on the Deschutes National Forest, on the southwest slope of Redtop Mountain. The fire is being managed under a full suppression strategy.  The Southern Area Gray Incident Management Team, led by Incident Commander Fulton Jeansonne, assumed command of the fire on Friday, July 19, at 6:00 a.m. local time. Public and firefighter safety is the highest priority in managing this fire. 

The Diamond Peak Wilderness encompasses 52,500 rugged acres straddling the crest of the Cascade Mountains. It was designated in 1964 by the Wilderness Act, to be stewarded in its natural, undeveloped condition. Motorized equipment, motor vehicles, and aircraft are prohibited in Wilderness by federal law, with narrow criteria for exceptions. The USDA Forest Service has authorized the use of chain saws, portable pumps, fire retardant, and aircraft landings by firefighters on the Red Fire since initial attack.

A Red Fire Community Meeting was held on Monday July 22.  A recording is available here.

Yesterday’s Activities – Firefighters continued to assess and scout opportunities for control features near the current fire footprint within the Wilderness. Construction of the shaded fuel break by both hand crews and heavy equipment continued southwest of the Crescent Lake Junction community; along the west side of the Union Pacific Railroad tracks to the north, and along the north side of Forest Service Road 60 near Crescent Lake working southwest. 

    The fire grew actively in the late afternoon under full sunlight and low humidity.  An infrared aircraft flight last night provided updated acreage.

Today’s Activities – Firefighters will continue to monitor the fire within the Diamond Peak Wilderness, and assess and scout opportunities for control features near the current fire footprint.  Hand crews, engines, and heavy equipment will continue to construct the shaded fuel break along the west side of the Union Pacific Railroad tracks and on the north side of Forest Service Road 60 southwest of the community of Crescent Lake Junction. 

    A shaded fuel break thins dense tree stands to reduce a fire’s intensity while retaining enough shade to slow down ground fire, and provides a contingency point for holding the Red Fire, if needed.

    Command of the Red Fire will transition from the Southern Area Gray Team to the Eastern Area Team 1 Complex Incident Management Team (CIMT) tomorrow, Friday July 26.

    The Southern Area Gray Team deeply appreciates all the support and cooperation received from the public, cooperators, stakeholders, and the Forest Service during our time on the Red Fire.

Weather – Sunny and slightly cooler today, with patchy morning smoke increasing in the afternoon.  Temperature around 70, humidity 25-31 percent, which is drier than yesterday.  Winds will be from the west at 5-10 mph.  Overnight temperature will be 42-45 degrees with light winds and humidity near 60 percent.

Evacuation Notice – The “WILDFIRE! Level 1 – BE READY to Evacuate” notice issued by Klamath County Emergency Management for the Crescent Lake, Odell Lake, and Crescent Junction area remains in effect.  For information, or to sign up for alerts, visit: https://www.klamathcounty.org/300/emergency-management 

     ( Klamath County Emergency Management. INCENDIO FORESTAL! Nivel 1 - ESTÉ PREPARADO para evacuar de las siguientes zonas: Crescent Lake, Odell Lake, Crescent Junction ).

Red Fire Area Closures – The Deschutes National Forest has implemented an emergency closure for the area around Crescent Lake and the DIamond Peak Wilderness.  The closure has been implemented for public and firefighter safety as heavy equipment works in this area constructing a shaded fuel breakas well as due to proximity to the fire.  Working equipment has the potential to throw woody material and rocks over 300 feet. 

     For information on the Red Fire Emergency Closure, visit the Deschutes National Forest website at:  https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/deschutes/alerts-notices/?aid=89091 

Fire Restrictions – Stage 2 Public Use Fire Restrictions which prohibit open fires including in developed campgrounds are currently in effect for the entire Deschutes National Forest. Visit the Deschutes National Forest’s website (fs.usda.gov/detail/deschutes/home/?cid=stelprdb5297376) for more information.

Smoke from the Red Fire and other area fires will continue to impact air quality.  Air quality information can be found at https://fire.airnow.gov/. 

A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place over the fire area. If you fly, we can’t. Unauthorized drone flights (UAS) pose serious risks to firefighter and public safety and the effectiveness of wildfire suppression operations. Aerial firefighting is suspended when unauthorized UAS are in the area, allowing wildfires to grow larger.

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