Monday, September 2nd was a day of transition on the Copperfield Fire. Oregon Department of Forestry’s Incident Management Team 3 and Oregon State Fire Marshal Red Incident Management team are currently managing the fire under unified command as of 6 pm this evening. The fire grew to an estimated 3,241 acres, driven by strong afternoon winds. Fire growth, which occurred mainly on the western flank of the fire, resulted in new spot fires up to half a mile from the fire perimeter. Fire crews worked with heavy equipment operators to put in and solidify dozer line on the east and north end of the fire. As those lines were solidified throughout the day, they continued to hold in part due to fuels treatments completed along the east flank of the current fire footprint, and crews have been mopping up to extinguish hot spots. On the west flank of the fire, fire crews were challenged by changing wind direction and active fire behavior.
Firefighters from across the state continue to arrive to battle the blaze and were supported by a half dozen aircraft. The focus for tonight’s night operations is to take advantage of low temperatures and high humidity to solidify the containment lines established today. Crews are focused on preserving life and property and keeping the current fire footprint as small as possible to minimize impacts to timber, rangeland, and cultural sites.
Residents and visitors in the area are advised to stay safe and stay informed. Visit https://www.klamathcounty.org/300/Emergency-Management for up-to-date information on evacuations and evacuee resources. Per the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office, evacuation levels will be reassessed the morning of September 3rd. Any changes will be published first to Genasys Protect, then by Mass Notification, then to the Klamath County Common Operating Picture (COP). A road closure remains in effect on the Sprague River Highway between mile markers 5 and 15. More information will continue to be posted and shared to this Facebook page, as well as the Copperfield Fire 2024 Facebook Page.
https://www.facebook.com/CopperfieldFire2024
