Incident Publication

Bootleg Fire Update, August 4, 2021   

Location: 28 miles northeast of Klamath Falls, OR   

Fireline total:  325 miles 

Size: 413,765 acres, 647 square miles

51 miles active fire edge, 274 miles of contained line 

Personnel: 1,493

Containment: 84% 

(Klamath Falls, OR) – A Red Flag Warning and a Fire Weather Watch are in effect this afternoon and evening for the second day in a row. These conditions promote the rapid spread of wildfire and extreme fire behavior, but so far the Bootleg fire line is holding. Helicopters kept dropping water on the active fire yesterday to cool it so crews could continue to work. 

Southwesterly winds yesterday brought smoke to the Bootleg Fire area from fires burning in northern California. The smoke was helpful in that it created overcast skies that allowed less solar radiation to the active fire and kept temperatures cooler. 

Overcast skies, from clouds or smoke, also dampen updraft winds that fuel active fires. Think of a chimney on a wood stove. If the flue is completely open, the heat from the fireplace is drawn upward and the updraft feeds oxygen to the fire. If the flue is somewhat closed, the updraft is lessened, and more heat stays in the wood stove and the fire burns more slowly. 

With fires burning across the West, more people are impacted by smoke. For most people, smoke is a nuisance. But some people are more sensitive to smoke and it can be dangerous for them. At some levels, smoke can be dangerous to everyone. The best way to mitigate the impacts is to limit your time outside, and when you are outside, avoid strenuous activity so less smoke is drawn into your lungs. If you are concerned about the amount of smoke, or if you or someone at home is especially sensitive, you can get sensors to alert you to unhealthy levels.  

If you anticipate heavy smoke, there are things you can do to minimize smoke in your home. “Like anything you are concerned about, the best thing you can do is to get ready ahead of time,” says Air Quality Advisor Margaret Key. “There are simple things you can do to get smoke ready.” Some effective measures include closing up rooms in your home and putting towels around the windows to keep smoke out. Box fans covered with a HEPA filter forces air through and filters out smoke. See links below for smoke maps and tips for being smoke ready. 

Community Meeting: Join us for a virtual community meeting tomorrow on Facebook live at 6:30 pm. www.facebook.com/BootlegFireInfo   

Evacuations:  Lake County expanded the Level 1 (Get Ready) evacuation boundary to include the area north of Summer Lake. The expanded area extends from Mile Post 73 on Highway 31 north to Picture Rock Pass and east of the highway to include the Ana Subdivision. A Level 2 (Be Set) evacuation remains in place from milepost 73 on Highway 31 south to Monument Rock. A Level 3 (GO NOW!) evacuation remains in place for all areas within and adjacent to the Bootleg Fire perimeter, including Yamsay Mountain, Thompson Reservoir, and the Sycan Marsh to the top of Winter Rim. The best way to view the evacuation designation boundaries and details is on the interactive map available at tinyurl.com/bootlegevac 

Closures:   An emergency closure order is in effect for the Bootleg Fire on the Fremont-Winema National Forest to protect public and firefighter safety. All travel or entry into the area is prohibited.  The full closure order and map are available on the website under Alerts and Closures at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/fremont-winema/alerts-notices    

Red Cross Evacuation Shelters: For information or assistance: 1-800-Red-Cross (www.redcrossblog.org/disaster)   

Smoke:  Wildland fire smoke can adversely impact your health. Be aware of the smoke near you and learn about ways to mitigate smoke impacts. See the air quality near you at https://fire.airnow.gov and learn how to keep smoke out of your home at https://www.epa.gov/smoke-ready-toolbox-wildfires   

Insurance Assistance: For additional information on submitting insurance claims after losing your home or property to a wildfire, please visit https://dfr.oregon.gov/insure/home/storm/Pages/wildfires.aspx or call the state’s team of consumer advocates at 888-877-4894 (toll-free).   

Fire Information Public Phone: 541-482-1331 Fire Information Media Phone: 971-727-7255  

Inciweb: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7609/  Facebook: www.facebook.com/BootlegFireInfo   

Actualizacion del Incendio de Bootleg Augosto 04, 2021 

Localización: 28 millas (45 Kilómetros) noreste de Klamath Falls, OR
Total Linea de Defensa: 325 millas (523 Kilómetros)
Tamaño: 413,765 acres (167,445 Hectáreas), 647 millas cuadrada (1,676 Kilómetros cuadrados)
51 millas (82 Kilómetros) de borde de fuego activo, 274 millas (440 Kilómetros) de línea contenida
Contención:  84%                                              

Personal: 1,493                                                                                     

(Klamath Falls, OR) – Una Alerta Roja y Alerta meteorológica de incendios estará en efecto esta tarde y noche por el segundo día consecutivo. Estas condiciones promueven la rápida propagación y el comportamiento extremo de los incendios forestales, pero hasta ahora la línea de defensa del incendio de Bootleg se mantiene. Ayer, los helicópteros descargaron agua sobre el fuego activo para enfriarlo para que las cuadrillas pudieran continuar trabajando. 

Ayer, los vientos del suroeste trajeron humo al área del incendio de Bootleg de los incendios forestales activos en el norte de California. El humo fue útil porque creó cielos nublados que permitieron menos radiación solar al fuego activo y mantuvieron las temperaturas más frías. Los cielos nublados, por las nubes o el humo, también aminoraron los vientos de corriente ascendentes que sostienen los incendios activos. Piense en una chimenea en una estufa de leña. Si la chimenea está completamente abierta, el calor de la chimenea se eleva hacia arriba y la corriente ascendente suministra oxígeno al fuego. Si la chimenea está cerrada un poco, la corriente ascendente disminuye, y queda más calor en la estufa de leña y el fuego arde lentamente. 

Con los incendios forestales que arden en todo el oeste, más personas se ven afectadas por el humo. Para la mayoría de las personas, el humo es una molestia. Pero algunas personas son más sensibles al humo y puede ser peligroso para ellas. En algunos niveles, el humo puede ser peligroso para todos. La mejor manera de mitigar los impactos es limitar el tiempo que se pasa al aire libre y, cuando esté al aire libre, evite la actividad extenuante para que entre menos humo en los pulmones. Si le preocupa la cantidad de humo, o si usted o alguien en casa es especialmente sensible, puede obtener sensores para alertarlo sobre niveles considerados no saludables. 

Si anticipa humo denso, hay cosas que puede hacer para minimizar el humo en su hogar. “Como con todo lo que le preocupa, lo mejor que puede hacer es prepararse con anticipación”, dice la asesora de calidad del aire Margaret Key. "Hay cosas sencillas que puede hacer para estar listo para el humo". Algunas medidas efectivas incluyen cerrar las habitaciones de su casa y colocar toallas alrededor de las ventanas para evitar que entre el humo. Los ventiladores de caja cubiertos con un filtro HEPA hacen pasar el aire y filtran el humo. Consulte los enlaces a continuación para ver mapas y consejos para estar listo para el humo.  

Reunión Comunitaria: Únase con nosotros para una reunión comunitaria virtual mañana en Facebook en vivo a las 6:30 pm. www.facebook.com/BootlegFireInfo   

Evacuaciones: El Condado de Lake expandió el límite de evacuación de Nivel 1 (Prepárese) para incluir el área al norte de Summer Lake. El área ampliada se extiende desde el poste de millaje 73 en la autopista 31 norte hasta Picture Rock Pass y al este de la autopista para incluir la subdivisión Ana. Una evacuación de nivel 2 (Estar Listo) permanece en su lugar desde el poste de millaje 73 en la autopista 31 sur hasta Monument Rock. Una evacuación de nivel 3 (¡VAYASEN AHORA!) Permanece en su lugar para todas las áreas dentro y adyacentes al perímetro de Incendio de Bootleg, incluida la montaña Yamsay, la represa Thompson y el pantano Sycan hasta la cima de Winter Rim. La forma más eficaz de ver los bordes de las nuevas designaciones de evacuaciones y detalles es en el mapa interactivo disponible en tinyurl.com/bootlegevac 

Cierres: Existe una orden de emergencia para el cierre del Bosque Nacional Fremont-Winema para proteger la seguridad del público y los bomberos debido al incendio de Bootleg. Se prohíbe todo viaje o entrada al área. El mapa y la orden completa están disponibles en el sitio web bajo Alertas y Cierres: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/fremont-winema/alerts-notices. 

Refugios de evacuación de la Cruz Roja: Para obtener información o asistencia: 1-800-Red-Cross, (www.redcrossblog.org/disaster).   

Pronostico del humo: El humo de los incendios forestales puede afectar negativamente su salud. Sea consciente del humo cerca de usted y aprenda formas de mitigar sus impactos. Chequea la calidad del aire cerca de usted en https://fire.airnow.gov y aprenda cómo mantener el humo fuera de su hogar en https://www.epa.gov/smoke-ready-toolbox-wildfires.  

Asistencia de seguros: Para obtener información adicional sobre cómo presentar reclamaciones de seguros después de perder su casa o propiedad en un incendio forestal, visite https://dfr.oregon.gov/insure/home/storm/Pages/wildfires.aspx o llame al equipo de defensores estatal del consumidor al 888-877-4894 (llamada gratuita).                                                                                        

Información sobre el incendio para el público: 541-482-1331        Información del incendio para la media: 971-727-7255 

Inciweb: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7609/                                         Facebook: www.facebook.com/BootlegFireInfo  

Twitter: twitter.com/BootlegFireInfo                                                    Hashtags: #BootlegFire #FireYear2021  

Join us for a Bootleg Fire Virtual Community Meeting at 6:30 pm on Thirsday, August 5, 2021. A remote broadcast of the virtual meeting will be available at City Hall in Paisley, 705 Chewaucan St., Paisley, OR 97636.  Incident Management Team Members will give an update and answer questions about the Bootleg Fire.

Fire Weather Warning
Beginning: 2021-08-04T21:01:00
Ending: 2021-08-06T05:00:00
New Alert
KLAMATH BASIN AND THE FREMONT-WINEMA NATIONAL FOREST- 201 PM PDT WED AUG 4 2021
...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM PDT THIS EVENING FOR STRONG GUSTY WIND WITH LOW RH AND HAINES 6 WITH EXISTING FIRE FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE 624... ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 10 PM PDT THURSDAY FOR STRONG GUSTY WIND WITH LOW RH AND  ABUNDANT LIGHTNING ON DRY FUELS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE 624...
 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEDFORD HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 10 PM PDT THURSDAY.
 * IMPACTS: STRONG, GUSTY WIND WITH LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND CRITICALLY DRY VEGETATION WILL GREATLY INCREASE THE SPREAD POTENTIAL OF ANY NEW AND EXISTING FIRES. VERY DRY AND UNSTABLE CONDITIONS TODAY WILL SUPPORT EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR. PLUME DOMINATION IS POSSIBLE WITH LOCALLY-GENERATED ERRATIC AND GUSTY WINDS AND SPOTTING COULD BE PROBLEMATIC. LIGHTNING AND HIGH FIRE DANGER WILL LIKELY RESULT IN NEW FIRE STARTS. GUSTY THUNDERSTORM WINDS COULD CONTRIBUTE TO FIRE SPREAD. DESPITE RAINFALL, INITIAL ATTACK RESOURCES COULD BE OVERWHELMED AND HOLDOVER FIRES ARE POSSIBLE.
* AFFECTED AREA: IN SOUTH CENTRAL OR...FIRE WEATHER ZONE 624, INCLUDING THE BOOTLEG FIRE.

* WIND: TODAY, SOUTHWEST 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH. ON THURSDAY, SOUTHWEST 10 TO 15 MPH SHIFTING TO WEST THEN NORTHWEST AND GUSTING UP TO 20 TO 25 MPH DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS. VERY STRONG OUTFLOW WINDS ARE POSSIBLE WITH ANY THUNDERSTORMS ON THURSDAY.
* HUMIDITY: 5 TO 10 PERCENT.
* ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES ARE EXPECTED DURING THE EARLY AFTERNOON HOURS ON THURSDAY.  HUMIDITIES WILL IMPROVE LATER IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING AS MOISTURE INCREASES AND THE CONCERN TRANSITIONS TO THUNDERSTORMS WITH STRONG GUSTY, ERRATIC WINDS.
* THUNDERSTORMS: ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WITH THE FOCUS OF ACTIVITY EXPECTED ACROSS NORTHERN AND EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE ZONE, INCLUDING OVER THE BOOTLEG FIRE.
* VIEW THE HAZARD AREA IN DETAIL AT: HTTPS://WWW.WRH.NOAA.GOV/MFR/HAZARD
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...AVOID TOSSING BURNING CIGARETTES ON THE GROUND, PARKING HOT VEHICLES ON DRY VEGETATION, AND USING EQUIPMENT THAT CAN CAUSE SPARKS. FOLLOW ALL FIRE RESTRICTIONS. FIND LINKS TO RESTRICTIONS AT WEATHER.GOV/MEDFORD/WILDFIRE. ONE LESS SPARK, ONE LESS WILDFIRE.GATHER YOUR FIRE EVACUATION KIT NOW. COLLECT ESSENTIALS YOU DON'T WANT TO LOSE AND PRIORITIZE YOUR CHECKLIST. VISIT READY.GOV/KIT FOR MORE INFORMATION.
FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH YOUR EVACUATION PLAN. WHERE WILL YOU GO? HOW WILL YOU GET THERE? WHO WILL YOU CALL TO LET OTHERS KNOW YOUR ARE SAFE? VISIT READY.GOV/WILDFIRES FOR MORE INFORMATION.
A RED FLAG WARNING DOES NOT MEAN THERE IS A FIRE. IT MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW OR WILL SHORTLY. THESE CONDITIONS PROMOTE RAPID SPREAD OF FIRE WHICH MAY BECOME LIFE THREATENING. EVACUATE IF ORDERED TO, OR IF A FIRE  THREATENS.  

Bootleg Fire Update, August 5, 2021   

Location: 28 miles northeast of Klamath Falls, OR

Fireline total:  326 miles

Size: 413,765 acres, 647 square miles

42 miles active fire edge, 284 miles of contained line

Personnel: 1,387

Containment: 84%

(Klamath Falls, OR) – For the third consecutive day, a Red Flag Warning and Fire Weather Watch are in effect for this afternoon and evening. Thunderstorms associated with the edge of a cold front are forecast for today and are likely to bring gusty and erratic winds. Yesterday, smoke and ash from the Antelope Fire in northern California filled the sky, helping to somewhat moderate fire behavior.  Despite the conditions over the past two days, the Bootleg Fire line is holding with no spot fires.  

Fire activity has increased inside the fire perimeter, however. There remain patches of unburned fuels where the fire can spread and single- and group-tree torching has been observed. Snags and other hazard trees are common and crews and heavy equipment are still actively working the fire area. 

As a reminder, the Fremont-Winema National Forest remains closed north of Oregon State Route 140.  Public entry to the burn area is unsafe. U.S. Forest Service Renewable Resources Staff Officer Sean Ferrell commented: “We know you care for our firefighters and want to help in any way you can. The best thing you can do is be patient and honor the closure to give firefighters space so they can work safely.” 

The Alaska Incident Management Team will transition command back to the Pacific Northwest Team 2 on Friday.   

Community Meeting: Join us for a virtual community meeting tonight on Facebook live at 6:30 pm and streaming at the Paisley Community Center. Join us at www.facebook.com/BootlegFireInfo   

Evacuations:  Lake County expanded the Level 1 (Get Ready) evacuation boundary to include the area north of Summer Lake. The expanded area extends from Mile Post 73 on Highway 31 north to Picture Rock Pass and east of the highway to include the Ana Subdivision. A Level 2 (Be Set) evacuation remains in place from milepost 73 on Highway 31 south to Monument Rock. A Level 3 (GO NOW!) evacuation remains in place for all areas within and adjacent to the Bootleg Fire perimeter, including Yamsay Mountain, Thompson Reservoir, and the Sycan Marsh to the top of Winter Rim. The best way to view the evacuation designation boundaries and details is on the interactive map available at tinyurl.com/bootlegevac 

Closures:   An emergency closure order is in effect for the Bootleg Fire on the Fremont-Winema National Forest to protect public and firefighter safety. All travel or entry into the area is prohibited.  The full closure order and map are available on the website under Alerts and Closures at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/fremont-winema/alerts-notices    

Red Cross Evacuation Shelters: For information or assistance: 1-800-Red-Cross (www.redcrossblog.org/disaster)   

Smoke:  Wildland fire smoke can adversely impact your health. Be aware of the smoke near you and learn about ways to mitigate smoke impacts. See the air quality near you at https://fire.airnow.gov and learn how to keep smoke out of your home at https://www.epa.gov/smoke-ready-toolbox-wildfires   

Insurance Assistance: For additional information on submitting insurance claims after losing your home or property to a wildfire, please visit https://dfr.oregon.gov/insure/home/storm/Pages/wildfires.aspx or call the state’s team of consumer advocates at 888-877-4894 (toll-free).   

Fire Information Public Phone: 541-482-1331  Fire Information Media Phone: 971-727-7255  

Inciweb: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7609/   Facebook: www.facebook.com/BootlegFireInfo   

Twitter: twitter.com/BootlegFireInfo  

Actualizacion del Incendio de Bootleg Augosto 05, 2021 

Localización: 28 millas (45 Kilómetros) noreste de Klamath Falls, OR
Total Linea de Defensa: 326 millas (525 Kilómetros)
Tamaño: 413,765 acres (167,445 Hectáreas), 647 millas cuadrada (1,676 Kilómetros cuadrados)
42 millas (68 Kilómetros) de borde de fuego activo, 284 millas (457 Kilómetros) de línea contenida

Contención:  84% 

Personal: 1,387                                                                                     

(Klamath Falls, OR) – Por tercer día consecutivo, una Alerta Roja y Alerta Meteorológica de Incendios estará en efecto esta tarde y noche. Tormentas eléctricas asociadas con el borde de un frente frío se pronostican para hoy y es probable que traigan vientos racheados y erráticos. Ayer, el humo y las cenizas del incendio de Antelope en el norte de California llenaron el cielo, lo que ayudó a moderar el comportamiento del fuego. A pesar de las condiciones de los últimos dos días, la línea de defensa del incendio de Bootleg se mantiene sin focos secundarios. 

Sin embargo, la actividad del fuego ha aumentado dentro del perímetro de Bootleg. Quedan parches de combustibles sin quemar donde el incendio se puede propagar y se han observado fuegos de antorcha de árboles individuales y grupales. Troncos quemados y otros árboles peligrosos son comunes y las cuadrillas y equipos pesados todavía están trabajando activamente en el área del incendio. 

Como recordatorio, el Bosque Nacional Fremont-Winema permanece cerrado al norte de la Ruta 140 del Estado de Oregon. La entrada pública al área de quema no es segura. El oficial de personal de recursos renovables del Servicio Forestal de los EE. UU., Sean Ferrell, comentó: “Sabemos que usted se preocupa por nuestros bomberos y desea ayudar en todo lo que pueda. Lo mejor que pueden hacer es ser paciente y respetar el cierre para darles a los bomberos espacio para que puedan trabajar de forma segura”. 

El equipo de manejo de incidentes de Alaska hará la transición de mando al equipo 2 del noroeste del Pacífico el viernes. 

Reunión Comunitaria: Únete a nosotros para una reunión comunitaria virtual esta noche en Facebook en vivo (www.facebook.com/BootlegFireInfo) a las 6:30 pm o la transmisión en el Centro Comunitario de Paisley.  

Evacuaciones: El Condado de Lake expandió el límite de evacuación de Nivel 1 (Prepárese) para incluir el área al norte de Summer Lake. El área ampliada se extiende desde el poste de millaje 73 en la autopista 31 norte hasta Picture Rock Pass y al este de la autopista para incluir la subdivisión Ana. Una evacuación de nivel 2 (Estar Listo) permanece en su lugar desde el poste de millaje 73 en la autopista 31 sur hasta Monument Rock. Una evacuación de nivel 3 (¡VAYASEN AHORA!) Permanece en su lugar para todas las áreas dentro y adyacentes al perímetro de Incendio de Bootleg, incluida la montaña Yamsay, la represa Thompson y el pantano Sycan hasta la cima de Winter Rim. La forma más eficaz de ver los bordes de las nuevas designaciones de evacuaciones y detalles es en el mapa interactivo disponible en tinyurl.com/bootlegevac 

Cierres: Existe una orden de emergencia para el cierre del Bosque Nacional Fremont-Winema para proteger la seguridad del público y los bomberos debido al incendio de Bootleg. Se prohíbe todo viaje o entrada al área. El mapa y la orden completa están disponibles en el sitio web bajo Alertas y Cierres: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/fremont-winema/alerts-notices. 

Refugios de evacuación de la Cruz Roja: Para obtener información o asistencia: 1-800-Red-Cross, (www.redcrossblog.org/disaster).   

Pronostico del humo: El humo de los incendios forestales puede afectar negativamente su salud. Sea consciente del humo cerca de usted y aprenda formas de mitigar sus impactos. Chequea la calidad del aire cerca de usted en https://fire.airnow.gov y aprenda cómo mantener el humo fuera de su hogar en https://www.epa.gov/smoke-ready-toolbox-wildfires.  

Asistencia de seguros: Para obtener información adicional sobre cómo presentar reclamaciones de seguros después de perder su casa o propiedad en un incendio forestal, visite https://dfr.oregon.gov/insure/home/storm/Pages/wildfires.aspx o llame al equipo de defensores estatal del consumidor al 888-877-4894 (llamada gratuita).                                                                                        

Información sobre el incendio para el público: 541-482-1331        Información del incendio para la media: 971-727-7255 

Inciweb: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7609/                                         Facebook: www.facebook.com/BootlegFireInfo  

Twitter: twitter.com/BootlegFireInfo                                                    Hashtags: #BootlegFire #FireYear2021

EVACUATION NOTICES ISSUED IN KLAMATH COUNTY FOR THE WALRUS AND YAINAX FIRES

Walrus Fire
LEVEL 3 EVACUATION NOTICE
Eastern Klamath County, All residents on Meadow Lark Dr, Porpoise Ln, Seal Ln in the Bly Mountain area are under Level 3 (GO NOW) Evacuation Notice due to the Walrus Fire. American Red Cross and Klamath County CERT are in the process of establishing a temporary evacuation point at the Bonanza school located at 31601 Mission St, Bonanza, OR.

LEVEL 2 EVACUATION NOTICE
Eastern Klamath County, All residents on Thunderbear Rd, Round Prairie Ct, Goldfinch Dr, Chicken Hawk Dr, Sparrow Hawk Dr in the Bly Mountain area are under Level 2 (GET SET) Evacuation Notice due to the Walrus Fire. Residents are urged to prepare to leave IMMEDIATELY if necessary. American Red Cross and Klamath County CERT are in the process of establishing a temporary evacuation point at the Bonanza school located at 31601 Mission St, Bonanza, OR.

LEVEL 1 EVACUATION NOTICE
Eastern Klamath County, All residents between Night Owl Dr. and Highway 140 in the Bly Mountain area are under Level 1 (BE READY) Evacuation Notice due to the Walrus Fire. American Red Cross and Klamath County CERT are in the process of establishing a temporary evacuation point at the Bonanza school located at 31601 Mission St, Bonanza, OR.

Yainax Fire
Level 2 (GET SET) Evacuation Notice for residents in the Bly Mountain area in eastern Klamath County. Residents east of Kingfisher Dr and east of Hummingbird Dr south to Sandpiper Dr are urged to GET SET to leave due to growing wildfire.

ORDER NO. 06-02-21-08 FIRE AREA EMERGENCY CLOSURE FREMONT-WINEMA NATIONAL FOREST
Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 551, 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(a) and (b), the following acts are prohibited on National Forest System lands and roads within the following described area on the Fremont-Winema National Forest, Bly, Chemult, Chiloquin, Lakeview, Paisley and Silver Lake Ranger Districts, as described in the attached Exhibit A. This Order becomes effective on August 5, 2021, and will remain in effect through December 31, 2021, or until rescinded. This order supersedes and rescinds order #06-02-21-07 signed by Forest Supervisor Barry Imler on July 27, 2021. PROHIBITIONS: 1. Going onto or being within an area closed for public health and safety. 36 CFR § 261.53 (e) 2. Being upon a closed road. 36 CFR § 261.54 (e) The area described below will be closed to public access/entry due to hazards and hazardous conditions created as a result of the Bootleg Fire. AFFECTED AREA/CLOSURE AREA: All National Forest System lands south of Silver Lake Road between the Williamson River and Oregon State Highway 31. All National Forest System lands west of Oregon State Highway 31 and U.S. Highway 395 between Silver Lake Road and the junction with Oregon State Highway 140. All National Forest System lands north of Oregon State Highway 140 between U.S. Highway 395 and Sprague River Road. All National Forest System lands northeast of Sprague River Road from the junction with Oregon State Highway 140 to the Williamson River Road. All National Forest System lands east of Williamson River Road between Sprague River Road and the Williamson River. All National Forest System lands east of the  Williamson River between Williamson River Road and Silver Lake Road. Refer to the attached map (Exhibit A). EXEMPTIONS: Pursuant to 36 CFR § 261.50(e), the following are exempt from this Order: 1. Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order) specifically authorizing the otherwise prohibited act or omission. 2. Any Federal, State or Local Officer or member of an organized firefighting force in the performance of an official duty. 3. Owners or lessees of land in the affected area.
This prohibition is in addition to the general prohibitions in 36 C.F.R. Part 261, Subpart A. Violations of this prohibition are punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both (16 USC § 551; 18 USC §§ 3551, 3559, 3571, and 3581). Done at Lakeview, Oregon, on _August 5, 2021_, at ________ AM / PM. ________________________________ BARRY L. IMLER Forest Supervisor Fremont-Winema National Forest _____
Date: August 5, 2021
Subject: Documentation of Civil Rights Impact Analysis (CRIA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Compliance for Title 36 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Subpart A and B Prohibition – National Forest Area and Road Closure #06-02-21-08 To: Project File Proposed Action: Issuing a Title 36 CFR Subpart A and B Order (Order) prohibiting entry in a closed area or roads on the Bly, Chemult, Chiloquin, Lakeview, Paisley and Silver Lake Ranger Districts of the Fremont-Winema National Forest associated with the Bootleg Fire suppression activities from August 5, 2021 through December 31, 2021 or until the order can be rescinded. Similar emergency fire area closures, including the Two Four Two Fire on the Chiloquin Ranger District and Brattain Fire on the Paisley Ranger District in 2020, did not cause significant long-term impacts. Issuing an Order to close the area referenced in Exhibit A is necessary for public, firefighter and employee safety during the ongoing suppression of the Bootleg Fire. The Bootleg Fire is an uncontrolled wildfire in the area that is continuing to burn under extreme conditions. The closure order allows firefighters to operate in the area safely as they do critical work in the area, suppressing the fire, assessing and repairing damage and mitigating risks of additional resource damage. This Forest Order includes an exemption for persons with a Forest Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order (Form FS-7700-48). Authorization under this exemption will be provided only if I or my delegate determine that the risk to personal health and safety is reasonable considering the circumstances of the request. We also may require appropriate personal protective equipment and other necessary safety measures. I hereby delegate the authority to sign Form FS-7700-48 granting an exemption to this Forest Order to the Bly, Chemult, Chiloquin, Lakeview, Paisley and Silver Lake District Rangers of the Fremont-Winema National Forest. Scoping occurred with the Bly, Chemult, Chiloquin, Lakeview, Paisley and Silver Lake District Staffs, the Incident Commander, the District Duty Officers, Forest Fire Staff and the Agency Administrator assigned to the Bootleg Fire. Forest Service policy and procedures for implementing NEPA are contained in Forest Service Handbook (FSH) 1909.15 (NEPA Handbook). Chapter 30 of that handbook discusses categorical exclusion (CE) from documentation in an environmental impact statement (EIS) or environmental assessment (EA) for routine actions that normally do not have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment. The CE provisions indicate only that the action is excluded from documentation in an EIS or EA, not from NEPA analysis. 36 CFR 220.6(d)(1) and Category 1 in Section 31.1b of the handbook categorically excludes “orders issued pursuant to 36 CFR part 261 – Prohibitions to provide short-term resource protection or to protect public health and safety”, unless scoping indicates that there are extraordinary circumstances. This order is a short-duration order to protect public health and safety and is therefore categorically excluded. The Forest Supervisor is responsible for certifying whether or not a CRIA must be conducted prior to making the decision on the proposed action. Civil rights impacts are defined as “alterations in people’s civil rights status that occur in conjunction with a new policy, program, project; are not attributable to any external factors; and are perceived by those affected as socially significant” (FSH 1709.11, sec. 30.5(12). No potential major civil rights or social impacts related to the proposed action (issuing Title 36 CFR Subpart B prohibition in an area designated by an Order) were identified. Similar actions on previous Orders on NFSL did not cause impacts and would apply to all users of the forest. I have concluded that this decision may be categorically excluded and no NEPA is required. Implementation of the decision may begin immediately. BARRY L. IMLER Forest Supervisor

GILCHRIST, SUN PASS STATE FORESTS IN KLAMATH COUNTY CLOSED TO PUBLIC USE

PREVIEW News Release from Oregon Dept. of Forestry
Preview posted on FlashAlert: August 5th, 2021 10:58 AM

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Due to extreme fire danger, the Gilchrist and Sun Pass state forests in Klamath County are closed to public entry and use until further notice effective Friday, August 6.

This covers approximately 98,000 acres of land managed by the Oregon Department of Forestry in Klamath County. Please note this action currently applies only to the Sun Pass and Gilchrist state forests. Forest roads are still open for residential traffic, adjacent landowners, and contracted activities.

Closure is necessary due to the current extreme fire conditions that are endangering life, forest resources, and property as well as very limited fire and emergency response resources. More than half of Klamath County is experiencing exceptional drought, with another 40 percent experiencing extreme drought conditions. Rainfall is well below average, with 2021 being the 6th driest year in 127 years. 

Contact Info:
Contact: Jason Cox, ODF Public Affairs Specialist, 503-945-7427, jason.r.cox@oregon.gov

Bootleg Fire Update, August 6, 2021   

Location: 28 miles northeast of Klamath Falls, OR
Fireline total:  326 miles
Size: 413,765 acres, 647 square miles
42 miles active fire edge, 284 miles of contained line
Personnel: 1,252
Containment: 87%

(Klamath Falls, OR) – Gusty winds and thunderstorms resulted in several new starts from lightning strikes north and south of the Bootleg Fire burn area. Initial attack resources have established perimeter to control them. The Walrus Fire and the Yanix Fire are about 75 acres each in size. The Yanix Fire has a spot about a quarter of a mile outside its perimeter and crews are working on initial attack and control of those new fires. The Pacific Northwest Team 2 resumed command of the Bootleg Fire from the Alaska Incident Management Team at 0600 today and assumed command of the Yanix Fire and Walrus Fire.  

Today’s weather will not be as extreme as the previous three days. Cooler temperatures and higher humidity overnight helped slow fire progression. Skies have cleared of smoke today, which can encourage updrafts and increase fire behavior, but also provides good weather for air operations. Crews will remain vigilant today watching for new starts and responding with initial attack to suppress them. 

The Bootleg perimeter has seen no significant growth in eight days. Fire crews continue to mop up and control the remaining active line, but most of the boundary is in patrol status. In some areas, chippers have started suppression repair work to help the forest heal. 

“We want to return the land to as close to the natural state and natural function as possible,” said Resource Advisor Coordinator Bill Hedman. “In time, the regrowth will bring the forest back.” Crews will work with the national forest to salvage any valuable timber and will chip small-diameter limbs and return that biomass to the forest to maintain nutrients. Often vegetation isn’t completely cleared, but rather, thinned, leaving large trees to help the forest regenerate. Suppression repair gives the forest a head start to regrow. 

Community Meeting: Due to the weather and power interruptions yesterday, the virtual community meeting was recorded and posted on Facebook. Check it out for the latest updates at www.facebook.com/BootlegFireInfo   

Evacuations:  Evacuations are dynamic. The best way to view the evacuation designation boundaries and details is on the interactive map available at tinyurl.com/bootlegevac 

Closures:   An emergency closure order is in effect for the Bootleg Fire on the Fremont-Winema National Forest to protect public and firefighter safety. All travel or entry into the area is prohibited.  The full closure order and map are available on the website under Alerts and Closures at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/fremont-winema/alerts-notices    

Red Cross Evacuation Shelters: For information or assistance: 1-800-Red-Cross (www.redcrossblog.org/disaster)   

Smoke:  Wildland fire smoke can adversely impact your health. Be aware of the smoke near you and learn about ways to mitigate smoke impacts. See the air quality near you at https://fire.airnow.gov and learn how to keep smoke out of your home at https://www.epa.gov/smoke-ready-toolbox-wildfires   

Insurance Assistance: For additional information on submitting insurance claims after losing your home or property to a wildfire, please visit https://dfr.oregon.gov/insure/home/storm/Pages/wildfires.aspx or call the state’s team of consumer advocates at 888-877-4894 (toll-free).   

Fire Information Public Phone: 541-482-1331  Fire Information Media Phone: 971-727-7255  

Inciweb: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7609/   Facebook: www.facebook.com/BootlegFireInfo   

Twitter: twitter.com/BootlegFireInfo   Hashtags: #BootlegFire #FireYear2021