Red Fire in Diamond Peak Wilderness grows to 350 acres; Level 1 notice out for Crescent, Odell lakes and Crescent Junction

(Update: Fire more than doubles in size; Level 1 BE SET in area)

CRESCENT, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The 4-day-old, lightning-sparked Red Fire west of Crescent Lake in the Diamond Peak Wilderness has grown to 350 acres, and Klamath County emergency managers have issued a Level 1 BE READY evacuation notice for Crescent Lake, Odell Lake and Crescent Junction.

RED FIRE UPDATE
July 21, 2024
Fire Information Line - 541-316-7711

centraloregonfire.org x.com/CentralORFire

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

Size: 350 acres | Location: 5 miles west of Crescent Lake Junction, Oregon
County: Klamath | Start Date : July 17, 2024 | Containment: 0% | Cause: Lightning
Total Personnel: 92

La Pine, 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.

Yesterday’s Activities – Firefighters continued to build on prior suppression efforts and scout for containment line opportunities close to the current fire footprint in the Diamond Peak Wilderness. Firefighters also continued performing structure assessments in the communities on the east side of the fire around Odell Lake, Crescent Lake Junction, and Crescent Lake. In addition, work started on a shaded fuel break on National Forest System land west of those communities and outside of Wilderness. In addition, a reconnaissance flight was conducted over the Red Fire, allowing Gray Team Operations personnel to better assess fire size and activity.

Today’s Activities – Firefighters will continue to assess and scout opportunities for containment lines in the Wilderness. Structure assessment work will continue in the area of Odell Lake, Crescent Lake Junction, and Crescent Lake. Construction of a shaded fuel break will continue along the west side of the Union Pacific Railroad tracks and the north side of Forest Service Road 60.

Weather – Mostly sunny with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms late in the afternoon. High temperature near 80, minimum humidity 40-45 percent, winds light in the morning, becoming west to northwest, 5-9 mph later.

Community Meeting – A Red Fire Community Meeting has been scheduled for Monday, July 22, at 6:00 p.m. at: Central Cascades Fire & EMS Community Service Center, 20400 Crescent Lake Hwy, Crescent Lake, OR 97733.

Evacuation Notice – WILDFIRE! Level 1 - BE READY to evacuate.

Klamath County Emergency Management has issued a WILDFIRE! Level 1 - BE READY to evacuate notice for the following areas: Crescent Lake, Odell Lake, Crescent Junction.

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

Plan to go to the Crescent Community Club if a Level 3: Go Now! evacuation is issued. There will be more information, respite, and disaster case management in-processing. ADA: Yes.

Fire Restrictions – Public usefire 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.

Air quality information can be found at https://fire.airnow.gov/ .

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.

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