Single Publication

RED FIRE UPDATE
July 24, 2024
Fire Information Line - 541-316-7711 

centraloregonfire.org    x.com/CentralORFire

Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-news/ordef-red-fire

Size: 292 acres    | Location: 5 miles west of Crescent Lake Junction, Oregon   
County: Klamath | Start Date: July 17, 2024  | Containment: 0%   | Cause: Lightning   
Total Personnel: 156

Klamath County, Oregon — The Red Fire is located within the Diamond Peak Wilderness on the Deschutes National Forest, on the southwest slope of Redtop Mountain. The fire is being managed under a full suppression strategy.  The Southern Area Gray Incident Management Team, led by Incident Commander Fulton Jeansonne, assumed command of the fire on Friday, July 19, at 6:00 a.m. local time. Public and firefighter safety is the highest priority in managing this fire. 

The Diamond Peak Wilderness encompasses 52,500 rugged acres straddling the crest of the Cascade Mountains. It was designated in 1964 by the Wilderness Act, to be stewarded in its natural, undeveloped condition. Motorized equipment, motor vehicles, and aircraft are prohibited in Wilderness by federal law, with narrow criteria for exceptions. The USDA Forest Service has authorized the use of chain saws, portable pumps, fire retardant, and aircraft landings by firefighters on the Red Fire since initial attack.

A Red Fire Community Meeting was held on Monday July 22.  A recording is available here.

Yesterday’s Activities – Firefighters continued to assess and scout opportunities for control features within the Wilderness.  Construction of the shaded fuel break continued southwest of the Crescent Lake Junction community; along the west side of the Union Pacific Railroad tracks to the north, and along the north side of Forest Road 60 near Crescent Lake working southwest. 

Today’s Activities – Firefighters will continue to assess and scout opportunities for control features near the current fire footprint within the Wilderness.  Additional heavy equipment resources continue to arrive and, along with hand crews, resources will continue the construction of the shaded fuel break along the west side of the Union Pacific Railroad tracks and the north side of Forest Road 60, southwest of the community of Crescent Lake Junction.  Shaded fuel breaks thin dense tree stands to reduce a fire’s intensity while retaining enough shade to slow down ground fire.

    Heavy equipment working on the shaded fuel break along Forest Road 60 will cause periodic temporary traffic stoppages.  The public is encouraged to avoid travel on Forest Road 60 if possible.  In anticipation of a future forest closure for the area, the public is discouraged from recreating in the Crescent Lake area.

Weather – Mostly sunny today with haze throughout the day. Temperature 76-79 degrees, humidity 31-36 percent.  Light terrain driven winds in the morning will become west winds 10-12 mph in the afternoon, with evening gusts to 23 mph.  Overnight temperature will decrease to near 45 degrees, with humidity near 80 percent. 

Evacuation Notice – The “WILDFIRE! Level 1 – BE READY to Evacuate” notice issued by Klamath County Emergency Management for the Crescent Lake, Odell Lake, and Crescent Junction area remains in effect.  For information, or to sign up for alerts, visit: https://www.klamathcounty.org/300/emergency-management 

Klamath County Emergency Management. INCENDIO FORESTAL! Nivel 1 - ESTÉ PREPARADO para evacuar de las siguientes zonas: Crescent Lake, Odell Lake, Crescent Junction.

Red Fire Area Closures – An area emergency closure is in effect for the entire Diamond Peak Wilderness due to the Red Fire. For more information, visit the Deschutes National Forest website at:  https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/deschutes/alerts-notices/?aid=89091 

Fire Restrictions – Public use fire restrictions are currently in effect for the Deschutes National Forest. Visit CentralOregonFire.org or the Deschutes National Forest’s website (fs.usda.gov/detail/deschutes/home/?cid=stelprdb5297376) for more information.

Smoke from the Red Fire and other area fires will continue to impact air quality.  Air quality information can be found at https://fire.airnow.gov/. 

A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place over the fire area. If you fly, we can’t. Unauthorized drone flights (UAS) pose serious risks to firefighter and public safety and the effectiveness of wildfire suppression operations. Aerial firefighting is suspended when unauthorized UAS are in the area, allowing wildfires to grow larger.

###