Two U.S. Forest Service employees were safely released after being held at gunpoint for roughly 15 hours near Gumboot Lake. A father and son surrendered following an overnight multi-agency response involving the FBI, local sheriff’s offices and federal tactical teams.

Two military C-130 Hercules airtankers equipped with Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems have been mobilized to Klamath Falls, providing additional surge capacity as dozens of large wildfires burn across the West. Each aircraft can release up to 3,000 gallons of retardant in seconds.

Klamath Trails Alliance volunteers, working with the U.S. Forest Service Fremont-Winema National Forest, have reopened a 600-foot connector trail near Lake of the Woods. The High-Rye Connector links the High Lakes Trail with the Rye Spur Trail and Billie Creek Nature Loop near Highway 140.

PacifiCorp has agreed to pay $575 million to resolve federal claims alleging its electrical lines caused six wildfires in Oregon and California. The settlement covers nearly 290,000 acres of burned federal land and includes no determination of liability.