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Red Fire Update | 9/9

Size: 1,554 acres   Location: 5 miles west of Crescent Lake Junction, OR   County: Klamath   
Start Date: July 17, 2024   Cause: Lightning   Containment: 0%   Total Personnel: 124 

Activities – Yesterday, the Red Fire grew 78 acres mostly to the north towards Redtop Mountain. The fire continues to back downslope into the vicinity of the Whitefish Creek Trail. Today, firefighters will continue to monitor and secure the area. Crews will haul chips out of the completed shaded fuel breaks and rehabilitation work continues along Forest Service Road 60. Structure protection equipment remains in place along Crescent Lake. Today, firefighters will test pumps and check on this equipment. At 7 a.m. Tuesday morning, management of the Red Fire will transition to the Willamette Complex-South’s NW Team 2 incident management team to better align strategies and support for the 208 and Red Fires. 

Strategy – A full suppression strategy is being implemented utilizing indirect tactics, shaded fuel breaks, structure protection equipment, trails, and hose lays. When the fire started, an assessment by the initial attack incident commander, local fire managers and forest staff determined the risk to responders was too great to continue with direct attack due to a lack of escape routes and safety zones, snag hazards, and firefighter safety issues in the remote location. Firefighters are continually reevaluating the safest, most effective suppression strategy based on changing weather, fuel conditions, and fire behavior. Firefighter and public safety remain the highest priority in managing this fire.  

Closures – To provide for the safety of firefighters, equipment operators, and the public, the Deschutes National Forest emergency closure around Crescent Lake and in the Diamond Peak Wilderness is still in effect. Forest Service Road 60 is closed, and road guards have been posted for public safety. The emergency closure is being reevaluated daily as conditions continue to change. More closure information is available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/deschutes/alerts-notices/?aid=89091.  

The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is closed from north of Windigo Pass (Mile 1883.5) to Highway 58 (Mile 1909.5). The previous PCT detour around the fire has been decommissioned as of noon on September 4. Currently there is not a detour around the closure. A map displaying the PCT closure can be viewed on the Pacific Crest Trail Association’s (PCTA) website at: https://closures.pcta.org/closure/Mr02blDvEwX1SJ9h1H49

The 2024 season for commercially harvesting Matsutake mushrooms opened for the Deschutes National Forest is open and will close November 4, 2024. The emergency fire closure impacts certain harvesting locations.  

Incident Weather, Fire Behavior, and Smoke –Today will be cooler with temperatures reaching 70-75 degrees but still hot and dry. Increased fire activity is expected. Tomorrow begins a cooling trend and with highs dropping into the 60s and higher relative humidity. There is an 80% chance of precipitation over the fire on Wednesday with possible thunderstorms.  

Evacuations – The WILDFIRE! Level 1 – BE READY to Evacuate notice issued by Klamath County Emergency Management for Crescent Lake, Odell Lake, and Crescent Junction areas remains in effect (INCENDIO FORESTAL! Nivel 1 – ESTÉ PREPARADO para evacuar de las siguientes zonas: Crescent Lake, Odell Lake, Crescent Junction). Visit www.klamathcounty.org/300/emergencymanagement for more information or to sign up for alerts. 

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

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