Single Publication

Little Yamsay Fire Update- May 12, 2024

Fire Information: 971-978-7899 Email: 2024.littleyamsay@firenet.gov

Size: 4,791 acres Location: 15 miles southeast of Chemult, OR near Klamath Marsh Start Date: Detected April 20, 2024 Cause: Lightning Total Personnel: 102 Crews: 3 Engines: 5 Heavy Equipment: 1 Water Tenders: 3

Crews completed roughly 1,500 acres of firing operations in phase 3 during Saturday’s shift. Favorable wind from the west kept smoke away from the Silver Lake Highway and allowed firefighters to work from east to west, carefully and methodically introducing fire onto the landscape. LaGrande, Union, and Lakeview Interagency Hotshot Crews utilized drip torches along roadways and Unmanned Aircraft Systems for firing within the interior in order to facilitate treatments in a coordinated manner.

Sunday, crews hope to complete firing operations on phase 3, closing in on the southwest corner of the planned treatment area. Several engine crews are in place to hold the fire within established control lines and protect legacy Ponderosa Pines by spraying out pre-existing fire scars or cat faces that catch fire.

Please use caution when travelling along the Silver Lake Highway. Drive slowly and adhere to signs on the side of the road. Firefighters will be working in close proximity to the roadway and visibility may be limited. Near the fire area, a pilot car will escort vehicles one-way to reduce the flow of traffic near the firing operations.

While these treatments may output significant smoke, fire activity is still consuming mostly ground fuels, brush, and ladder fuels. Larger ponderosa pines have adapted to fire- they have biological characteristics that allow them to withstand less severe ground fire. A regular cycle of low intensity burning enhances the health of these trees by reducing competitive plants, slowing the spread of insects and disease, and recycling nutrients to enhance soil health. A more open overstory allows light to enhance the growth of grasses on the forest floor, attracting wildlife and providing forage for deer and elk. As the narrative of “fighting” fire shifts in the west, utilizing natural starts as an opportunity to re-introduce a natural fire regime will be necessary to promote forest health, thus “fighting” large and destructive wildfires.

There are no closures or evacuations for the Little Yamsay Fire. Residents and visitors traveling to the area are encouraged to drive responsibly as emergency firefighter vehicles will be present. Expect delays as traffic control may be implemented due to smoke and/or hazards.

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