Single Publication

Red Fire

July 26, 2024

Daily Fire Update

Online: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/ordef-red-fire

** NEW ** Facebook – 2024 Red Fire Information

** NEW ** Fire Information Line: 541-208-1766, 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM 

Email: 2024.red@firenet.gov

Red Fire Quick Facts

Size: 389 acres Origin: 5 miles west of Crescent Lake Junction, Oregon County: Klamath

Start Date: July 17, 2024 Cause: Lightning Containment: 0% Total Personnel: 179

Today’s Highlight: The Eastern Area Complex Incident Management Team (CIMT), led by Brian Jenkins, Incident Commander, assumed the management of the Red, Round and Wickiup fires at 6:00 a.m. on July 26, 2024. The Eastern Area CIMT expresses appreciation to the Southern Area Gray Team for their support to the firefighters, community, and Deschutes National Forest.

Operations: Firefighters continued to assess feasible locations for construction of control features in the vicinity of the Red Fire within the Diamond Peak Wilderness. Hand crews also continued work to manually reduce wildfire fuels near Crescent Lake along Forest Service Road 60 in the vicinity of recreational residences. To the southeast of the fire, outside the Wilderness, a task force, consisting of heavy equipment continued construction of a shaded fuel break along the Union Pacific Railroad tracks.

Shaded fuel breaks consist of an area along a road or rail line, where dense tree stand are thinned to reduce fire intensity while retaining enough shade to slow down ground fire. Decreasing tree density minimizes the potential for fire to spread through the crowns of trees. Shaded fuel breaks are a fundamental tool to manage wildfire risk in fire prone environments.

Today, firefighters will continue to monitor the fire within the Diamond Peak Wilderness and identify access routes suitable for fireline construction. 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. Staff will continue to look for suitable routes that will allow them to extend this fuel break to the north.

Round Fire – Firefighters continue to work on mop up. The fire remains 108 acres and is 50 percent contained.

Wickiup Fire – Firefighters continue to work on mop up. The fire remains 168 acres and is 75 percent contained.

Closures – The Deschutes National Forest has implemented an emergency closure around Crescent Lake and in the Diamond Peak Wilderness. Closure information is available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/deschutes/alerts- notices/?aid=89091

Evacuation Notices – 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 (INCENDIO FORESTAL! Nivel 1 - ESTÉ PREPARADO para evacuar de las siguientes zonas: Crescent Lake, Odell Lake, Crescent Junction). For information, or to sign up for alerts, visit: www.klamathcounty.org/300/emergency-management

Fire Restrictions – Stage 2 Public Use Fire Restrictions which prohibit open fires, including in developed campgrounds, are in effect for the Deschutes National Forest. Visit the Deschutes National Forest’s website fs.usda.gov/detail/deschutes/home/?cid=stelprdb5297376 for more information. The Industrial Fire Precaution Level is currently Level IV “General Shutdown”.

Weather: Today, warmer, drier conditions are forecast with highs near 86 degrees. Widespread haze will cover the area in the morning followed by areas of smoke throughout the afternoon. Fire weather will continue to be moderate. Light winds out of the east will shift to west - northwest winds gusting to 15 mph in the afternoon. Relative humidity will be between 25 and 29 percent.

A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the fire area. If you fly, we can’t! Unauthorized drone flights pose serious risks to firefighter and public safety and will halt aerial operations and seriously impact fire suppression efforts.

Smoke: 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/.