Fire Crews Close Remaining Gaps
Containment reaches 53% as suppression repair begins and a management transition approaches.
FAST FIRE FACTS
Name:
Wrights Spring Fire
Location:
2 miles west of Sprague River, Oregon
Size: 54,016 acres
Containment: 53%
Personnel: 973
Evacuations:
Multiple evacuation levels remain in effect, although levels have decreased across much of the affected area.
Command:
Northwest Incident Management Team 8
Activity:
Crews are closing remaining gaps along the south and southwest perimeter, continuing direct line construction and tactical firing near Swan Lake Point. Secure areas are moving into patrol, mop-up, and suppression repair.
Smoke:
Light smoke is expected around the Klamath Basin, generally improving during the afternoon.
Closures:
Bliss Road remains closed from Petersteiner Road to Sprague River. The Fremont-Winema National Forest fire-area closure remains in effect.
Shelters:
Red Cross shelters remain available in Chiloquin and Bonanza. Large-animal sheltering remains available at the Klamath County Fairgrounds.
Cover Photo, International Support: Chiloquin Helibase Manager Jamie Hamblion of Australia stands with a Type 1 helicopter supporting operations on the Wrights Spring Fire. Northwest Team 8.
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - Work on the Wrights Spring Fire is increasingly shifting from building containment toward securing the remaining open portions of the perimeter and beginning repairs in areas where suppression work is winding down.
The fire is now mapped at 54,016 acres and 53% contained, with 973 personnel assigned. Firefighters reported another quiet night across much of the incident, while crews continue concentrating on the south and southwest sides between Hildebrand Road and Swan Lake Point.
Northwest Team 8 is also beginning preparations to turn the incident over to another management team once the remaining work is in place. Resources are being consolidated at the Bliss Road Incident Command Post as operational needs change.
CREWS WORK TO CLOSE SOUTHWEST GAP
The remaining significant line construction continues along the southwest side of the fire.
Crews worked directly along the fire edge Monday evening, where pockets of unburned vegetation remained between the fire and newly constructed line. Some tactical burning was used to remove those fuels, and firefighters successfully held that work overnight.
Tuesday, firefighters and heavy equipment will continue moving through previously burned areas before splitting north and south to connect line being built from either end.
Near Swan Lake Point, additional unburned fuels remain between established lines. Fire officials expect to conduct carefully sequenced firing operations over the next couple of days to secure that portion of the perimeter.
Similar work remains in Division H, where crews are finishing line and coordinating the timing of those burns so one operation does not create additional risk for firefighters working elsewhere.
SECURE AREAS MOVE TOWARD REPAIR
Conditions continue to look good across much of the northern and eastern portions of the Wrights Spring Fire.
Around Saddle Mountain, crews are largely patrolling contained line and beginning repairs to roads damaged or heavily used during suppression operations.
From Skeen Ranch Road to Bliss Road, firefighters will continue increasing mop-up depth with the goal of adding more containment along the eastern side.
Fire officials said afternoon winds increased activity Monday and prompted numerous helicopter bucket drops, but the fire settled significantly overnight.
NEXT MANAGEMENT TRANSITION APPROACHING
Northwest Team 8 remains in command, but Operations Section Chief Ben Curtis said crews are working to complete the remaining priority work before turning the incident over to the next management team.
That transition marks another step in the Wrights Spring Fire response as more of the perimeter moves into patrol, mop-up, and suppression repair.
Evacuation levels have also decreased across much of the affected area, although multiple levels remain in effect. Bliss Road and the Fremont-Winema National Forest fire-area closure also remain in place.
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