The BOOTLEG FIRE was sparked by lightning on July 7, 2021. It is named after the nearby Bootleg Spring. It is located about 11 miles northeast of the town of Sprague River and 15 miles northwest of Beatty, Oregon.
The LOG FIRE has merged in with the BOOTLEG FIRE and is under one incident name only, including stats. This occurred on July 20, 2021.
Fire Operations
Thursday was filled with another day of escalated levels of active fire behavior, which was predicted for Fire. Per the IC, that crews are using hose lays, mop up and patrol to contain and improve them. It remains with creeping, torching and smoldering.
Reports of approximately 160 miles of uncontained line in a fire that has over 300 miles of perimeter.
Resources
Currently, there are 1,918 fire personnel, including 47 crews, 22 copters and 98 engines.
Credit | Bootleg Fire Facebook Page
American Red Cross
BLM Fire
South Central FMP
Fremont-Winema NF
Klamath County
Lake County
Oregon National Guard
WA National Guard
Civil Air Patrol
Fremont FD (CA)
SW Polk FD
NWS Medford
Metro Fire of Sacramento (CA)
Nevada National Guard
Baker Aircraft
Portland FD
American Forests
Tanker 10
NIFC
Kirkland (WA) FD
ODF
OR’s 2nd District Congressman Cliff Bentz
Medford Tanker Base
Current Status
The fire has burned about 413,562 acres of timber and brush and is 56% contained.
Damage Assessment
Destroyed: 161 homes and 247 other structures destroyed; crews are reporting 408 structures to the NIFC July 30th briefing.
Damaged: 16 homes and 15 other structures.
Threatened: 2,066 homes.
Cost-to-date: $67.4 Million Dollars.
Public Information — Fire Information Public Phone – 541-482-1331.
The BOOTLEG FIRE was sparked by lightning on July 7, 2021. It is named after the nearby Bootleg Spring. It is located about 11 miles northeast of the town of Sprague River and 15 miles northwest of Beatty, Oregon.
The LOG FIRE has merged in with the BOOTLEG FIRE and is under one incident name only, including stats. This occurred on July 19, 2021.
Resources and Incident Cooperators on this incident are the following. (NOTE: Some are either assigned or have been released).
Crew member lighting backfire. Credit – USFS
There are about 2,216 total personnel assigned along with 49 crews, 148 engines and 21 copters.
American Red Cross
BLM Fire
South Central FMP
Fremont-Winema NF
Klamath County
Lake County
Oregon National Guard
WA National Guard
Civil Air Patrol
Fremont FD (CA)
SW Polk FD
NWS Medford
Metro Fire of Sacramento (CA)
Nevada National Guard
Baker Aircraft
Portland FD
American Forests
Tanker 10
NIFC
Kirkland (WA) FD
ODF
OR’s 2nd District Congressman Cliff Bentz
Medford Tanker Base
Current Status
The fire is about 23 miles east of Chiloquin, Oregon. Fire behavior is extreme with running, group torching and spotting. About 409,611 acres has been consumed but crews have successfully reached a 53% containment status.
Damage Assessment
There has been 184 destroyed structures and there have not been any new ones in this number, which is great news for property owners and fire crews knowing their efforts are starting to show they are fruitful. Damage costs-to-date has reached a high of $55.3 million dollars.
Restrictions
Public Information — Fire Information Public Phone – 541-482-1331.
JULY 25, 2021 AT 1400 HOURS (2PM) PT — VIRTUAL FACEBOOK PAGE —-
No account needed to watch. Hosted by the Bootleg Fire Operations Center
Credit — Bootleg Fire PIO
The BOOTLEG FIRE began on July 7, 2021 from an unknown cause at the time of the sparked wildfire. It is named after the nearby Bootleg Spring.
The LOG FIRE has merged in with the BOOTLEG FIRE and is under one incident only, including stats. This occurred on July 19, 2021.
Resources
There are 2,216 total personnel still assigned to this incident, along with 49 crews, 152 engines and 20 copters.
Resources and Incident Cooperators on this incident are the following. (NOTE: Some are either assigned or have been released).
American Red Cross
BLM Fire
South Central FMP
Fremont-Winema NF
Klamath County
Lake County
Oregon National Guard
WA National Guard
Civil Air Patrol
Fremont FD (CA)
SW Polk FD
NWS Medford
Metro Fire of Sacramento (CA)
Nevada National Guard
Baker Aircraft
Portland FD
American Forests
Tanker 10
NIFC
Kirkland (WA) FD
ODF
OR’s 2nd District Congressman Cliff Bentz
Medford Tanker Base
Command is under the direction of an AK Type 1 Team, an Type 1 IMT.
There are 2,216 total personnel still assigned to this incident, along with 49 crews, 152 engines and 20 copters.
The Amazing Faces Supporting Firefighters and Other Incident Activities – Zuni Camp Crew
It takes a village to put out a wildfire, especially a large wildfire. In Silver Lake Spike Camp, we are supported by an amazing group, the Zuni Pueblo from New Mexico. The Zuni Camp Crew helps serve meals, keep the camp tidy and issue supply. – Bootleg Fire PIO
Credit — Bootleg Fire PIO
Current Status
The fire has increased to 408,248 acres and crews have made a significant amount of progress on this firestorm with reaching a 46% containment status.
Fire behavior at this time is extreme with running, flanking and group torching. Due to the extremeness of the fire intensity, it is creating its own fire weather. A stunning and rare event occurred on July 18, 2021, when a tornado appeared on the eastern perimeter of the fire.
Here is a photo of the aftermath and you can see what type of destruction it made on the land. Fire Officials and meteorologists will definitely looking at this phenomenal event for years to come.
Credit — Bootleg Fire PIO
Damage Assessment
Structure loss is holding at 184, but the cost-to-date expenses for fire suppression and containment has reached a whopping $48.7 Million Dollars.
Restrictions
Public Information — Fire Information Public Phone – 541-482-1331.
Stark Stats
July 15, 2021
2 million people are said to be under RED FLAG WARNINGS across California, Idaho, Montana, Washington and Oregon. Bootleg Fire deemed official “megafire” of 2021.
July 16, 2021
The Bootleg Fire creates its own weather and with that comes lightning strikes within the pyrocumulus cloud it produces.
Just on the same day, the weather produces a tornado on the east fire perimeter and clears out a whole area. This is very dangerous for those on the ground.
Very Large Tankers (VLATS) Tankers 910 and 912 arrive to the Medford Tanker Base.
July 17, 2021
The fire has burned two-and-a-half sizes of San Francisco worth of forest from July 13 – 17, 2021.
July 18, 2021
Fire grows to be 467-square miles, is about 40% the size of Rhode Island (US).
Mutual aid (fire agencies) respond from as far away as New York and Florida.
Fire continues to remain extremely active. Fire Officials ask the public to avoid the area as it puts their firefighters and people at risk.
Credit — Bootleg Fire PIO
July 19, 2021
Deemed as one of the largest U.S. wildfires, is said to be not only creating its own fire weather but is disrupting up to higher elevations in our atmosphere.
Nationally speaking, wildfires were burning in 13 U.S. states where 80 large fires had burned a cumulative of 1,174,486 acres. More than 19,600 firefighters and support personnel were actively assigned to these events.
Red Cross volunteers have provided 3,409 meals and snacks, 565 total overnight stays, 145 emergency supplies since July 9, 2021.
The Bootleg Fire is deemed the 6th largest fire incident in Oregon’s Fire History with others listed as Silverton Fire at 988,000 acres (1865), Siletz Fire at 800,000 acres (1849), Biscuit Fire 500,000 acres (2002), Long Draw Fire 557,000 acres (2012), Buzzard Complex 396,000 acres (2014) and the Bootleg Fire 303,791 (reported on this day) (2021).
July 20, 2021
Fire is deemed to be the 3rd largest fire ever in the State of Oregon’s Fire History.
Fire burns into the The Nature Conservancy Sycan Marsh Preserve. The TNC works to protect its research station.
Nine wildfires continue to burn across the State. Gov. Kate Brown recognizes this fire is the 4th largest to burn in Oregon since 1900.
More than 900 airline flights into Denver (CO) are delayed mostly due to poor visibility from the smoke.
Smoke from this wildfire is said to be impacting Philly (PA).
Fire burns about one mile east Sprague River.
Credit — Kirkland FD
July 21, 2021
Lightning is determined to be the cause of this firestorm.
It’s smoke, along with other wildfires has spread across the entire North American continent and is swirling across the Atlantic Ocean towards Europe.
The fire is thirteen-times larger than the City of San Francisco and the size of Los Angeles, California.
Fire is visible from the JMU campus.
Nevada National Guard pilot finds a missing Firefighter, only Nevada soldier assigned to this incident. Awarded by ONG’s General for his heroic actions.
Hazy skies observed in Oklahoma.
Air Quality Alert issued in Nashville (TN).
July 22, 2021
General Daniel Hokanson with the Oregon National Guard thanks Guard members for supporting civilian agencies with firefighting efforts.
Nine firefighters test positive for COVID-19, are quarantined.
July 23, 2021
70 homes are burned.
Specialty local food cart: Anderson’s helps provide vegan/specialty diets for their firefighters. These guys deserve a HUGE Shoutout and some support to their business!! – ED.
Credit — Gaston Fire District
“Local food cart at #bootlegfire helps 1 of our vegan firefighters get meals to fit his dietary needs. They drove 45 miles to closest store to get supplies. Thank you Anderson’s Food Cart.” – Gaston FD
Kirkland FD’s Lt. Dave Nelson and Captain Ryan Riedl are assigned as line EMTs. Their role is to provide urgent medical care to firefighters on the fire line.
American Red Cross is at this fire (70 are burning at this time) providing life-saving shelter, food and water services to anyone who has been forced to evacuate.
July 24, 2021
Fire containment increases to just 4% since this morning, but activity has continued to increase.
WA County (OR) Task Force 25 has been released from the incident after their 14-day deployment. They return back to their respective agencies and quarters.
Credit — Forest Grove FD with the WA County (OR) Task Force
Firefighters were able to keep fire from moving east towards the towns of Summer Lake and Paisley (OR). Fire is said to be now longer than the I-5 corridor through Oregon at 321 miles.
Fire is burning ancient forests, lakes and wildlife refuges, so you can imagine its impacts on the area.
Montana Red Cross volunteer finds out one-week during his service on the Bootleg Fire that his own MT home is being threatened by the Harris Fire.
A brush fire broke out on Friday, July 22, 2021, at 1752 hours PT, along Hwy 155, near milepost 18 and Northrup Canyon Road; 5 miles SSE of Electric City and southwest of Grand Coulee near SR-155 in Grant County, Washington.
The fire is named the NORTHRUP FIRE.
Credit — Grant County SO
Resources
112 total personnel are assigned to this incident along with two hand crews, 16 engines, two tenders and one copter.
Incident Cooperators: Grand Coulee FD, Electric City FD, Coulee Dam Fire, Grant County FD, Lincoln County, BLM, WA DNR, NIFC, Inciweb, Park Rangers, WSP Troopers.
Command is under IC Leonard Johnson representing the SEWA IMT 3 Team 2, which assumed Command on July 23, 2021, at 2000 hours.
WA State Mobe approved by the WSP Fire Marshal Office.
Courtesy — SE WA IMT
Cause
The cause is unknown and under investigation.
Current Status
This is still an active, on-going incident.
About 250-450 acres of timber, tall grass and hardwood litter have been destroyed (various sources reporting vastly different numbers). A 65% containment status has been reached since early this morning.
Fire behavior is moderate, smoldering, backing, and isolated torching.
Closures – Parks
SR 155 and Steamboat Rock Park reopened.
Evacuation Notices
All evacuation orders have been reduced down to Level 1.
The LOG FIRE has merged in with the BOOTLEG FIRE and is under one incident only, including stats. This occurred on July 19, 2021.
Credit | SW Polk FD
Resources
A total number of fire personnel is currently at 2,389 alongside 50 crews, 80 water tenders, 197 engines, 42 dozers, 28 other heavy equipment and 20 copters.
Mutual Aid Updates: These six Fremont firefighters deployed to the this ginormous fire in the Fremont-Winema National Forest on July 8th with CAL OES Strike Team 2870C, remain healthy and all equipment is operational. – Fremont FD (CA)
Incident Cooperators
Incident Cooperators include the American Red Cross, BLM, S Central OR FMP, Fremont-Winema NF, Klamath County, Lake County, ODF, OR and WA National Guards, Civil Air Patrol, Fremont FD (CA), SW Polk Fire, local public health and Oregon Health Authority’s nine cases testing COVID positive cases among resources on the ground, which are now being quarantined from the rest of the crews.
Current Status
There has been 400.389 acres of timber, brush and closed timber consumed. A 42% containment has been reached. Fire crews will continue to strive for reaching all of their fire suppression and containment objectives.
Smoke is visible from OR Hwy 140, Sprague River Hwy, Chiloquin and surrounding areas.
Fire managers reported via the NIFC briefing, that fire behavior remains at extreme with running, flanking and group torching observed activities.
“Firefighters have been working around the clock, both day and night, in their continuous effort to contain this more than 400,000-acre wildfire.
Night has proven to be the best timeframe to successfully build line as fire activity generally decreases when the temperature drops and the humidity rises.
The day shift has been working diligently to hold established containment lines, by picking up spot fires and securing the fire’s edge.”
– Bootleg Fire PIO Brad Bramlett
Damage Assessment
184 structures destroyed.
CTD for fire suppression and containment efforts have reached $41.5 Million Dollars.
Restrictions
TFR over the fire is in effect
No DRONES in Fire Zones
Public Information | Fire Information Public Phone – 541-482-1331.
This fire ignited on Monday, July 5, 2021 around 1700 hours PT, along Hwy 138 E near Jack Creek and about 15 miles southeast of Pomeroy, as well as southwest of Asotin, Washington. The DRY GULCH FIRE merged in with this incident.
Command
This incident is being managed by the NW Team 3 (type 1 IMT) and CA Team 12 (Type 2 IMT) (en route). IMTs are also managing the GREEN RIDGE FIRE.
Credit: USFS
Current Status
There has been 78,158 acres of timber and closed timber litter scorched. There is a 75% containment status reached. Fire Managers have forecasted this fire to be fully contained on September 1, 2021.
This used to be the DRY GULCH FIRE, which merged into the larger fire.
Active fire behavior with flanking, backing and isolated torching.
Resources
There are 278 total personnel with a reduction of 75 resources since yesterday. At this time there are four crews, 23 engines and seven copters.
Closures
Forest Service lands, roads, trails – Unmatilla National Forest
Evacuations
LEVEL 1
Grouse Flats
Garfield County
Columbia County
LEVEL 1 dropped
Groverland
Anetone
Evacuations – Grouse Flats now a Level 1 from a Level 2 (Asotin County), along with Groverland, along with Garfield, Columbia counties.
Damage Assessments
About 10 structures have been lost and there has been a CTD reached at $11.9 Million.
A brush fire broke out along Hwy 155, near milepost 18 and Northrup Canyon Road, from an unknown cause southwest of Grand Coulee near SR-155 in Grant County, Washington. The fire is named the NORTHRUP FIRE.
Initial Response
Prior to a call out for additional resources, initial attack was conducted by Grand Coulee FD, Electric City FD, Coulee Dam Fire, Grant County FD, Lincoln County and BLM. Initial fire response included five copters, four fire bosses, two air tankers and an air attack.
Resources
The Wildcad.net showed resources on Thursday, July 22, 2021, more personnel and assets being deployed that included the following: AA 4WA CH 6101 DIV 6101 E 6695 E 6696 FB 201 FB 202 FB 243 H 339 H 343 dispatched 7/22/2021 @ 1742 PT with the acreage around 150 acres. Friday’s resources indicated there are two hand crews, three strike teams (engines), two copters and one available dozer.
Incident Cooperators: Grand Coulee FD, Electric City FD, Coulee Dam Fire, Grant County FD, Lincoln County, BLM, WA DNR, NIFC, Inciweb, Park Rangers, WSP Troopers.
Command is under the SE WA Type 3 IMT.
Cause
The cause is unknown and under investigation.
Current Status
The fire continued to spread overnight on Thursday into Friday morning. Currently, it is listed 442 acres with a zero-percent containment status.
Closures – Roads
Hwy 155 to all non-fire traffic between Steamboat Rock and Electric City
Evacuation Orders in Effect
Level 3 evacuation orders
One residence in the north portion of the fire
Steamboat Rock State Park
Level 2 evacuation orders
40 homes
Areas east of Hwy 155 between MP 18 and Osborn Bay Campground Road
Through the Eyes of Social Media
7/13/2021: (Twitter user) “way more hazy today, lots of ash in cars.” – Twitter user.
8/4/2019: Smoke from the Williams Fire near Grand Coulee Dam impacts the Pendleton, Oregon areas. – NWS Pendleton
8/18/2018: Brett Read, Firefighter is severely burned during the Grass Valley Fire, near the (dam).
8/16/2018: Washington Flats Fire located seven miles north of the Grand Coulee Dam, was contained on July 13, 2018. Credit: Bureau of Reclamation. Works with partners to secure dams and facilities from wildfires. – Bureau of Reclamation.
9/12/2016: Fire crews stage at the Grand Coulee Dam Middle School for an incident. – Media
WA Flats Fire | Credit: USBR
7/4/2016: No fireworks or lightshow this year. – Twitter user.
7/10/2015: In the last 4 hours, there was lightning, a wildfire, flash flood and visited the Grand Coulee Dam.
8/31/2015: A human-caused wildfire was sparked near Grand Coulee Dam. On this day, it was 200,000 acres.
11/19/2013: Worker hurt after electrical fire at Grand Coulee Dam Pump Generator Plant. – Media
3/22/2013: Bureau to probe fire at Grand Coulee. – Water District Agency
8/23/2011: About 250 firefighters assigned to fire incident. – Media
8/16/2012: The Elder Fire burns into another day. Colville Tribe says brush fire burned 12-square miles. 7,800 acres and growing. – News media
8/15/2012: Wildfire burning near the (dam). 4,100 acres. – News media.
8/23/2011: Crews work to contain fire near Grand Coulee Dam. 200 firefighters assigned. – Media.
The BRULER FIRE was detected on July 12th near the boundary between the Detroit and Sweet Home Districts, near the junction of FS Rd11 (Straight Creek and Quartzville Roads) and FS Rd 1133. This is about eight miles south of Detroit Lake, Oregon.
The fire is smaller in comparison to other wildfires burning in the northwest with a small about of 195 acres of closed timber litter, heavy logging slash and timber.
Containment status is now at 12%.
Fire behavior has been reported as moderate with backing, flanking and torching.
There 250 total personnel along with five crews, 11 engines and four copters.
Command is under the direction of IC Gales with the NWIMT Team 13.
Total CTD is $2.2 Million in suppression and containment expenses.
Projected containment is expected to be completed on Thursday, September 30, 2021.
The cause is unknown. It is under investigation.
No injuries/deaths related to civilians or to firefighters have been reported by Officials.
Welcome to Oregon’s Sit Rep on this Thursday, July 22, 2021, where many explosive wildfires are still burning.We are breaking down these incidents now individually.
May you all stay safe!
# # #
Heroic Actions Recognized on the Bootleg Fire: 4-Star Recognition by the Chief of the National Guard Bureau General Daniel Hokanson.
Credit | Army National Guard of Nevada
Nevada Army Guard helicopter pilot Chief Warrant Officer 4 Kevin Keeler was awarded a challenge coin by Chief of the National Guard Bureau Gen. Daniel Hokanson, center, today in Oregon to recognize the pilot’s effort to locate a missing firefighter at the massive Bootleg Fire on Sunday.
Keeler located the firefighter and informed ground crews of the firefighter’s location; the firefighter is fine and already back on the front lines battling one of the nation’s largest active wildfires.
Keeler is a Lakota helicopter pilot with the 3/140th Security and Support Aviation Detachment based in Las Vegas.
Hokanson was the Oregon Guard’s adjutant general from 2013-2015. Military commanders often present challenge coins in recognition of special achievements or accomplishment.
# # #
USFS | Fremont-Winema National Forest
Bootleg Fire
23 miles E of Chiloquin, 28 miles NE of Klamath Falls, 11 miles of the Town of Sprague River
The many faces behind those who work tirelessly hours, exert lots of energy and are in the best times of their lives (loving their current jobs). We wanted to showcase some of these men and women.
Mutual Aid Updates: These six Fremont firefighters deployed to the this ginormous fire in the Fremont-Winema National Forest on July 8th with CAL OES Strike Team 2870C, remain healthy and all equipment is operational. – Fremont FD (CA)
The Bootleg Fire is now 399,359 acres of mixed grass/shrub, timber with understory with litter fuel types. The scorched area is mostly densely populated of timber stands, dry meadows and shrub fields.
The LOG FIRE merged in with the BOOTLEG FIRE and is under one incident only, including stats.
Additionally, the containment status has increased to 38%. These are the images shared from Engine 8231’s assignment thus far.
Assigned to this incident, there are 2,268 acres with 49 crews, 199 engines and 20 copters. Fire command is under Joe Hessel, Lance Lightly and Rob Allen.
Incident Cooperators include the American Red Cross, BLM, S Central OR FMP, Fremont-Winema NF, Klamath County, Lake County, ODF, OR and WA National Guards, Civil Air Patrol, Fremont FD (CA), SW Polk Fire, local public health and Oregon Health Authority’s nine cases testing COVID positive cases among resources on the ground, which are now being quarantined from the rest of the crews.
“Protecting the health and safety of firefighting personnel and those in the local community is the highest priority.” -Public Health.
Credit | USFS
Restrictions | TFR over fire is in effect, meaning “No drones in Fire Zones”.
Evacuations | Decreased for those in Lake County areas per the Sheriff’s Office.
Level 3 – GO NOW!
From 1 mile from Sprague River on the county line, east to Bear Flat, continuing to Dairy Point.
Level 2 – Be Set
From one mile south of the South Fork Sprague River, on the county line, south to Owen Butte, east to Quartz Valley Mountain, northeast to upper Coleman Rim.
Level 1 – Be Ready
From lower Coleman Rim north Highway 31, north to Owen Butte, east to Quartz Valley to the FS 28 Road.
Evacuation Notices
Quartz Mountain area from the FS 34 Road near Mitchell Monument to Hwy 140 east.
Public Information | Fire Information Public Phone – 541-482-1331.
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