Firefighters with the Texas A&M Forest Service and other Mutual Aid resources were kept busy on Friday and continuing into Saturday, December 11, 2021, as they were deployed to several very large wildfires under RED FLAG fire conditions producing extreme fire behavior. Many of these fires caused significant travel delays and impacted several communities. Continued fire suppressions efforts are still going strong.
Credit | TAMFS
Arrowhead Fire
The ARROWHEAD FIRE is located about one mile west of Petrolia, heading Southeast towards Henrietta in Clay County. The fire started on 12/10/2021 at approximately 1600 hours. Unified Command with TX A&M FS and local Fire Departments. There have been about 7,500 acres destroyed. Grass and brush are fire fuels and crews have reached 35% containment status. Dispatched via the Northwest Dispatch Zone. Cause: Debris burning.
County Line Fire
The COUNTY LINE FIRE is located in Wilbarger County. It is about 1,000 acres and is 0% contained. This incident was dispatched via the Northwest Dispatch Zone.
Electra Complex Fire
The ELECTRA COMPLEX FIRE is located In the town of Electra off of US Hwy 287 in Wichita County. The two fires started on December 10, 2021, around 1200 hours and would later merge together on the very same day it started. There has been an estimated 2,300 acres of tall grass and mesquite burned and crews have successfully reached an 85% containment status. Fire Managers have reported the weather windy conditions as a possible concern. Incident Cooperators include local FD agencies along with Federal Firefighters from Sheppard AFB and State resources along with crews from the TX A&M Forest Service. TAMFS and Electra VFD are in Unified Command. Fire behavior has been extremely active with high winds. Aircraft has been unable to assist or fly due to heavy smoke and poor visibility.
Lazy J Town Fire
The LAZY J TOWN FIRE has burned about1,000 acres and there is a 0% containment. Limited information.
Twin Creek Fire. West of Lake Meredith in Moore County. Started December 10, 2021, around 1430 hours. Est. 3,000 acres. 60% contained. Panhandle Dispatch Zone. Started on December 10, 2021. TX A&M FS in Unified Command with Dumas FD, TX Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System, and local fire departments. Extreme fire behavior has been observed with a high rate of spread.
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, CA — Another brush fire has broken out in California today as winds are picking up and low RH making it the perfect combination for fire to burn up drought-like fuels around them.
Credit | Alert Wildfire cameras
Tonight, we see another brush fire has broken out but this one is located along HWY 166 at mile marker 17 in Santa Maria (Santa Barbara County) called the RANCH FIRE. Northeasterly winds have picked up to six miles per hour with gusts up to 13. (Initial reports at 1912 PT).
At 1912 hours PT, both the SB County and CAL FIRE FD units were en route to the area where the fire was reported to located.
Shortly, thereafter, Command called for a Fire Investigator and a PIO.
Unknown how many acres burned or the current containment status.
While the Fire Season may be over for portions of the United States, Montana wildland firefighters are still battling an unprecedented number of wildfires in today’s world.
A wildfire named the ROSEBUD FIRE was discovered on November 16, 2021, at 0656 hours MT. It is located about six miles west of Roscoe (Swiftwater County), Montana.
The fire has burned 1,044 acres of grass, sage, and timber on private lands so far. Fire behavior is said to be minimum but still observed as creeping and smoldering. There has been a 30% containment status reached as of today’s date. The objective remains the same in crews are working to reach an 100% containment status.
Throughout this incident, there have been two resource deployments from the Billings Interagency Dispatch Center at 0656 hours on the day of the fire discovery and later at 1000 hours from the Lewiston Interagency Dispatch Center WC6 according to CAD records.
There is currently 39 total personnel assigned to this incident at the moment.
The cause of the fire is unknown and under investigation.
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Located on Hazel Dell Road and Hidden Canyon, northwest of Watsonville (Santa Cruz). Started October 15, 2021 around 1440 hours PT. CAL FIRE – CZU is the lead fire management agency. Fire caused by the Estrada Ranch Prescribed Fire.
150 acres. 0% contained. Moderate rate of spread. Structures and powerlines are under threat and prompting evacuations (currently in progress). Firefighters are working throughout the night to strengthen direct control lines. Officials report there is retardant around the whole fire. The fire died down around 2100 hours on Friday night.
Social Media users posted some photos (we do not have permission for rebroadcasting) and stated the fire could be seen from areas such as West Gilroy, East Garrison and West Cliff Drive (Santa Cruz).
EVACUATIONS:
EVACUATION SHELTER: Evacuees are being directed by Officials to go to the Corralitos Community Church, 26 Browns Valley Road to meet with Red Cross volunteers. Need assistance? Contact them at 831-454-2181. (CLOSED 10/15/2021 @ 2200 hours PT due to light turnout).
EVACUATION MAPS: Evacuation maps can be located on CAL FIRE’s website here –> https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/ or at community.zonehaven.com.
The Middle Fork Complex has multiple wildfires that broke out on July 29, 2021, around 1400 hours PT, about nine miles north of Oakridge, Oregon.
Currently, there are 12 wildfires actively burning on the Middle Fork Range District.
Credit | USFS
Air resources conducting an recon flight detected a new start on Thursday afternoon and were able to provide an initial attack support to ODF. This new fire is called the West Fire, which is located on the hillside between McLane Creek and the Water tower off of West Second.
Nine wildfire incidents Knoll, Packard, Windfall, Symbol Rock, Devil’s Canyon, Larlson Cove, Way, Warble and Journey Fires have been turned back to the Willamette National Forest.
A cause of these fires are undetermined and under investigation.
About 17,503 total acres of timber (litter/understory) and closed timber litter have been consumed. A 10% containment status has been reached.
Fire behavior remains active with flanking, backing and torching.
Leve 1 and 3 evacuations are in effect. For specific areas, you can visit the Lane County’s website for exact details http://www.lanecounty.org.
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.
Current Status
The fire has consumed 413,734 acres of mixed grass and shrub, timber with understory, and timber with litter fuel with a 74% containment.
Fire Operations
“At this point in the fire, we have to think about two things,” says Fire Behavior Analyst Chris Moore, “the fire we know about and the fire we don’t know.” The fire we know is the actively and recently burned portions of the Bootleg Fire. Much of the recent fire activity has been torching and burning pockets of fuel within the burn area. While the fire is not yet contained, a fire line has been constructed around the entire perimeter. Now crews are working to ensure that perimeter holds (is secured) to contain the fire. In some places, fire line is 100 to 150 feet wide from the unburned into the burned area. But some places may require as much as 300 feet to confidently expect the fire to remain contained. – PIO
South, west east perimeters: crews are patrolling and extinguishing fire and heat (mopping up) where fire is less active.
Northwest and Northeast: To strengthen and expand the fire line. contingency lines or fire breaks, are being constructed.
Credit | USFS
Fire Weather
Critical fire weather is projected for the weekend to include current drought conditions mixed in with low RH, strong surface wind and unstable air. Potential for wind to carry embers and spark new spot fires in areas where the fire line is unsecured.
Resources
Command is under Norm McDonald, Alaska Type 1 Incident Management Team.
There are 1,918 total personnel assigned.
Additionally, there are 51 crews, 95 engines and 10 copters.
Agencies and organizations that are assisting with this incident, are called Incident Cooperators. Below is the known partners but some could be missing from this list.
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
Damage Assessment
There has been 408 structures destroyed. The total CTD is $70.6 Million Dollars for fire suppression and containment costs.
Public Informaiton
Forest Service Closures | The Fremont-Winema National Forest is now open south of Oregon State Route 140. Closures remain in effect north of the highway to provide for public safety and the safety of firefighters. The full closure order and map are available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/fremont-winema/alerts-notices
Impacted Fire Victims/Evaucees
Insurance Assistance | How to File Fire-Damage Claims | 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).
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.
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