Wrights Spring Fire Reaches 46,769 Acres as Large Forest Closure Takes Effect
New maps show a significantly larger fire perimeter as evacuations remain widespread across southern Klamath County.
Fast Fire Facts
Name:
Wrights Spring Fire
Location:
Approximately 17 miles NNE of Klamath Falls
Size: 46,769 acres
Containment: 0%
Personnel: 555
Evacuations:
35, Level 3 zones
23, Level 2 zones
29, Level 1 zones
Command:
Northwest Team 8 and OSFM Green Team, Unified Command
Activity:
The fire grew nearly 12,800 acres in 24 hours, with continued expansion to the south and southeast.
UPDATE, 10:06 AM:
Firefighters report successful overnight operations on both the north and south ends of the Wrights Spring Fire.
Crews completed a strategic burn around Saddle Mountain on the north end of the fire, tying the operation together early Monday morning. An infrared flight using an unmanned aircraft found no spot fires outside the line. On the south end, night crews using heavy equipment pushed fireline east and west of Bliss Road to pick up Sunday’s growth and help prevent further impacts toward Bly Mountain.
Monday operations will focus on reinforcing those lines, holding and mopping up the Saddle Mountain burn, and strengthening the direct dozer line between Skeen Ranch Road and Bliss Road. Crews are also looking for opportunities to contain the fire where it continued moving southeast.
Structure protection resources are increasing around Bly Mountain. Oregon State Fire Marshal Structure Operations Chief Brent Olson encouraged people still in the Bly Mountain area to leave as the fire continues progressing southeast. Additional structural resources will be working throughout that area Monday.
Public Information Map: The latest public information map shows the Wrights Spring Fire at 46,769 acres, along with the current fire perimeter and surrounding Forest Service closure area. Northwest Team 8.
CHILOQUIN, Ore. — The Wrights Spring Fire has grown to 46,769 acres, an increase of nearly 12,800 acres in the past 24 hours as hot, dry, and windy conditions continue to push the fire through critically dry fuels in southern Klamath County.
New maps released Monday morning show a substantially larger fire perimeter stretching from the original fire area east of Chiloquin toward Sprague River, then south and southeast toward Round Mountain and Bliss Road.
Evacuations remain widespread across the region as the fire’s footprint expands, while a large Fremont Winema National Forest closure is now in effect across lands surrounding much of the incident.
Fire Glow: The glow of the Wrights Spring Fire lights the smoke filled sky as the fire continues burning through southern Klamath County off Highway 140. Photo by Christopher Trotchie.
EVACUATIONS REMAIN WIDESPREAD
Evacuation Areas: Updated evacuation zones surrounding the Wrights Spring Fire continue to extend across a broad portion of southern Klamath County. Genasys Protect.
The Wrights Spring Fire has moved quickly to the southeast, forcing emergency officials to repeatedly expand and adjust evacuation zones to stay ahead of the fire’s advance. At the time of publication, 35 Klamath County zones are Level 3 (GO NOW), 23 are Level 2 (Be Set), and 29 are Level 1 (Be Ready).
Monday morning maps show just how broad that evacuation footprint has become. Level 3 areas extend from around Sprague River south and southeast toward Round Mountain and Bly Mountain, while Level 2 and Level 1 areas reach farther outward toward Highway 140 and communities including Hildebrand, Yonna, Dairy, and the outskirts of Bonanza.
Those boundaries have changed repeatedly, sometimes within a matter of hours. Residents anywhere near the affected area should continue checking their specific address rather than relying on an earlier map or social media post.
View current Wrights Spring Fire evacuations and the live Genasys Protect map.
Bliss Road / Cover Photo: The Wrights Spring Fire burns south of Bliss Road, viewed from the north side of the road as flames move through timbered terrain. Photo by Christopher Trotchie.
OVERNIGHT WORK STRENGTHENS NORTH AND SOUTH FLANKS
Firefighters made progress overnight on both ends of the Wrights Spring Fire.
On the north side, crews completed a strategic burning operation in Divisions R and X around Saddle Mountain. Operations Section Chief Ben Curtis said crews tied the burn together Monday morning, and infrared mapping from an unmanned aircraft found no spot fires outside the line.
Crews will spend Monday holding and mopping up that burn while strengthening lines intended to prevent additional fire movement toward Chiloquin and areas farther north.
On the southern end, night shift resources using heavy equipment pushed fireline east and west of Bliss Road to capture growth from Sunday and reduce the threat toward Bly Mountain. Day crews will reinforce and secure that line.
Firefighters working between Skeen Ranch Road and Bliss Road will also strengthen direct dozer line constructed Sunday and evaluate where additional line can be built as the fire continues moving southeast.
OSFM structure protection resources have increased around Bly Mountain, where crews are assessing properties and looking for opportunities to provide point protection. Additional resources will also work around Eagert Road, south Bliss Road, and potentially the Swan Lake area.
LARGE FOREST CLOSURE NOW IN EFFECT
Forest Closure: The Fremont-Winema National Forest has closed National Forest System lands, roads, and trails within a large area surrounding the Wrights Spring Fire. Highway 97, Highway 140, and Sprague River Road are not included in the closure. Fremont-Winema National Forest.
The Fremont-Winema National Forest has closed a large portion of the Chiloquin Ranger District because of hazards associated with the Wrights Spring Fire.
The closure covers National Forest System lands, roads, and trails across a broad area generally east of Highway 97, south of Sprague River Road, and extending east toward Sprague River and Highway 140.
Highway 97, Highway 140, and Sprague River Road are not themselves included in the Forest Service closure and are used as portions of the closure boundary.
The emergency closure took effect Sunday and is scheduled to remain through Oct. 31 unless rescinded sooner. Forest officials said it is intended to protect the public and firefighters while suppression operations, damage assessment, and hazard mitigation continue.
Night Fire: The Wrights Spring Fire burns beneath a dense smoke layer as flames illuminate the horizon across southern Klamath County. Photo by Christopher Trotchie.
WANT TO HELP? SEND IT WHERE IT IS NEEDED MOST
How to Help: Fire officials are asking people who want to help to direct donations toward evacuees, local organizations, and volunteer fire departments rather than bringing supplies directly to fire camp. Northwest Team 8 / Oregon State Fire Marshal. (Tap to enlarge)
As the Wrights Spring Fire grows, so has the number of people looking for ways to help. Fire officials say that support is appreciated, but they are asking people not to bring food, water, or other supplies directly to fire camp.
Firefighters arrive equipped for assignments that can last two weeks, including their personal gear and basic necessities. Incident management teams also cannot accept donated food or supplies at fire camp because of logistical and land management requirements. Water, electrolyte drinks, and other basic provisions are already supplied to firefighters working the incident.
Instead, officials are encouraging people to turn that generosity toward the communities being affected by the fire.
The Gospel Mission in Klamath Falls is accepting bottled water, store bought nonperishable snacks, and monetary donations. The Klamath Tribes are accepting a broader range of supplies at locations in Klamath Falls, Chiloquin, and Beatty, including water, nonperishable snacks, gift cards, new sleeping bags, towels, socks, batteries, toiletries, box fans, and air filters.
Those who want to give financially can also support the Wildland Firefighter Foundation or the American Red Cross, which is assisting evacuees through shelters in Chiloquin and Bonanza.
Fire officials are also pointing people toward local volunteer fire departments. Those departments are often among the first crews on a wildfire, sometimes operating with limited funding and firefighters who purchase some of their own equipment and supplies.
The message from fire command is pretty simple: the firefighters assigned to the Wrights Spring Fire are being taken care of. Right now, many of the people living around them could use the help.
Keep Reading
