Single Publication

Red Fire

July 27, 2024

Daily Fire Update

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

Facebook – 2024 Red Fire Information

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

Email: 2024.red@firenet.gov

Red Fire Quick Facts

Size: 416 acres Origin: 5 miles west of Crescent Lake Junction, Oregon   County: Klamath

Start Date: July 17, 2024 Cause: Lightning Containment: 0% Total Personnel:  168

PUBLIC Meeting Announcement: The Eastern Area Complex Incident Management Team (CIMT) will host a Community Meeting Sunday, July 28, 2024, at 6:00 p.m., at the Central Cascades Fire & EMS Community Service Center – 20400 Crescent Lake Hwy Crescent Lake, OR 97733. The meeting will also be viewable live through the Deschutes National Forest Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/deschutesnationalforest/.

Operations: Firefighters continued to construct handline around structures near Odell Lake and down to the lake.

Hand crews worked along Forest Service Road 60 to reduce vegetation loading 50 to 100 feet from the road. Heavy equipment and crews continued their progress removing concentrations of vegetation from the east end of the Odell Lake to the south and west. The shaded fuel break construction continued along the Union Pacific railroad lines. Hand crews worked in areas identified for reducing the density of trees. Decreasing dense tree stands will make it more difficult for fire to travel through the crowns of trees decreasing fire intensity.

Humidity levels play an important role in fire management. The higher humidity forecast for today will improve the vegetation moisture levels and help determine how much of the vegetation is available to burn. When vegetation moisture is high, fires are difficult to ignite and burn poorly. With little moisture in the vegetation, fires start easily and other driving forces, such as wind, may cause rapid and intense spread.

Today, firefighters will continue to install a shaded fuel break along the boundary of the Diamond Peak Wilderness separating heavy fuels from the roads, residences, resorts and the community of Crescent Lake Junction. A structure protection crew and a structure specialist will assess critical values in the Crescent Lake area. A timber task force will continue to create defensible space protecting critical structures and other values along the Union Pacific Railroad and structures along Odell Lake. Crews will scout out opportunities to construct control features along Forest Service Road 1610.

Round Mountain Fire – Firefighters continue to work on mop up.  The fire remains 108 acres and is 65 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: Humidities are improving, into the 25% range creating damper air for the next 2-3 days. Temperatures will climb into the low 70s near the fire area. Winds will remain very light in the morning hours and will shift to northwest winds in the afternoon, gusting up to 15 mph. An Air Quality Alert is in effect today until noon due to wildfire smoke and forecasted conditions causing the air to reach unhealthy levels.

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/.