USFS: Crews on Red Fire continue structure protection, fuel reduction work

Crescent, OR – The Red Fire is burning within the Diamond Peak Wilderness of the Deschutes National Forest, on the southwest slope of Redtop Mountain. The fire is being managed under a full suppression strategy. Public and firefighter safety is the highest priority in managing this fire.

Yesterday’s Activities – Despite a slight downsizing due to critical needs of other fires, remaining crews continued progress toward completion goals. Firefighters continued efforts to protect homes, infrastructure, and natural resources. They are near finished with the shaded fuel break’s north section and will continue expanding it west along FSR 60. Crews working around residences near Crescent Lake’s northwest shore finished installing sprinklers along the service road. Road improvement work continued on FSR 6010. Resource advisors from the Deschutes National Forest continued to work closely with firefighters to protect sensitive areas

Today’s Activities – Firefighters will continue with structure protection and fuels reduction. Crews will continue to improve roads and defensible areas on FSR 6010. Scouts continue to look for opportunities to insert more resources to assist with suppression needs and goals should they become available. Crews will begin moving from completed sections around the fire to areas requiring the most work, as well as checking and cleaning up already completed areas.

Weather and Smoke –. As the cloudy skies continue to clear in the fire area that slight moisture change in the fuel beds bringing higher relative humidity. Relative humidity is the main factor as it is always changing slowly with the predicted weather. Burning will be moderate to slow on most of the fire today. Air quality information can be found at https://fire.airnow.gov/.

Closures – The Deschutes National Forest has implemented an emergency closure around Crescent Lake and in the Diamond Peak Wilderness. The public should note that Forest Service Road 60 is closed, and road guards have been posted for public safety. More closure information is available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/deschutes/alerts-notices/…

Evacuations – The WILDFIRE! Level 1 – BE READY to Evacuate notice issued by Klamath County Emergency Management for the 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/emergency-management 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 – are in effect for the Deschutes National Forest. The Industrial Fire Precaution Level is currently Level IV “General Shutdown.” Visit http://fs.usda.gov/detail/deschutes/home/… for more information.