Fires update: Warmer weather expected as Bootleg fight continues

By Sage Van Wing (OPB)
July 25, 2021 10:43 a.m.

In this photo provided by the Bootleg Fire Incident Command, a firefighter is silhouetted against the flames of the Bootleg Fire.

Bootleg Fire Incident Command via InciWeb

Warmer and drier weather is expected throughout Oregon this week, which may bring increased fire activity.

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The Bootleg Fire burning in South Central Oregon is still just under 50 percent contained and burning over 400,000 acres. It remains the largest fire in the country.

The Bruler fire burning south of Detroit Lake has led to the closure of large portions of Forest Service and BLM land in the area. The fire is 44 percent contained, and has burnt over 100,000 acres.

The Elbow Creek fire in Wallowa county is burning over 20,000 acres, with 28 percent containment.

Campfires are currently banned in all state parks and forests east of Interstate 5. Campfires are also banned in most National forest lands, including Willamette National Forest and Mt. Hood National Forest.

More than 85 large wildfires are currently burning around the country.

In this photo provided by the Bootleg Fire Incident Command, a plane drops retardant near Mitchell Monument in the Bootleg Fire, July 19, 2021.

In this photo provided by the Bootleg Fire Incident Command, a young bear cub was spotted by a safety officer, and ran off after firefighters stopped, in the Bootleg Fire area, July 18, 2021. Incident Command also stated, "According to a biologist with Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, a law enforcement officer saw the mother sow just before cub was observed. It is very good news that the animal is not an orphan. ODF&W stresses that many animals that appear alone often actually aren’t, so please don’t pick them up."

A helicopter is seen carrying a bucket on the southeastern corner of the fire on July 19, 2021.

In this photo provided by the Bootleg Fire Incident Command, the Bootleg Fire burns behind heavy equipment at the Mitchell Monument in southern Oregon on Saturday, July 17, 2021.

A thick haze hangs over New York City's Manhattan Borough on July 20, 2021. Wildfires in the West, including the Bootleg Fire in Oregon, are creating hazy skies and poor air quality as far away as the East Coast.

A smoke column shows the air conditions during Oregon's Bootleg Fire on July 18.

A firefighter heading to work at the Bootleg Fire on the night of June 17, 2021.

Crews head out to engage the Bootleg Fire.

In this photo provided by the Bootleg Fire Incident Command, the Bootleg Fire is seen smoldering in southern Oregon, Saturday, July 17, 2021.

In this photo provided by the Bootleg Fire Incident Command, a firefighter and rig work through the night, July 17, 2021 at the Bootleg Fire.

Strategic firefighting operations Friday, July 16, on Oregon's Bootleg Fire, which was the biggest wildfire in the U.S.

A firefighter works during nighttime firefighting operations, July 15.

Firefighter Garrett Suza, with the Chiloquin Forest Service, mops up a hot spot on the northeast side of the Bootleg Fire, Wednesday, July 14, 2021, near Sprague River, Ore.

In this photo provided by the Oregon Office of State Fire Marshall, flames and smoke rise from the Bootleg Fire in Southern Oregon on Wednesday, July 14, 2021.

Firefighter Jacob Walsh examines burned trees on the North East side of the Bootleg Fire, Wednesday, July 14, 2021, near Sprague River, Ore.

Firefighter Gary Robinson, with Pacific Habitat and Fire, eats dinner by headlamp after a 12-hour shift fighting the Bootleg Fire, late Tuesday, July 13, 2021, in Bly, Ore.

A hotspot flares up on the northeast side of the Bootleg Fire, Wednesday, July 14, 2021, near Sprague River, Ore.

Firefighter Garrett Suza, with the Chiloquin Forest Service, mops up a hot spot on the northeast side of the Bootleg Fire, Wednesday, July 14, 2021, near Sprague River, Ore.

Dee McCarley hugs her cat Bunny, whom she took with her while evacuating from the Bootleg Fire, while at a Red Cross center on Wednesday, July 14, 2021 in Klamath Falls, Ore.

Oregon National Guardsmen regroup at the Bootleg Fire Command Center, Wednesday, July 14, 2021, in Chiloquin, Ore.

Bootleg Fire night operations overnight from July 14 to July 15, 2021.

Art Garcia and his dog Shiro rest after evacuating to a Red Cross shelter near the Bootleg Fire on Tuesday, July, 13, 2021 in Klamath Falls, Ore.

Veterinarian Tawnia Shaw, with The Happy Pet Vet team, examines horses that had been left during a Level 3 evacuation during the Bootleg Fire, Tuesday, July 13, 2021, near Sprague River, Ore.

Smoke fills the air near the Bootleg Fire, Tuesday, July 13, 2021, near Sprague River, Ore.

The Bootleg Fire smoke plume grows over a single tree on Monday, July, 12, 2021 near Bly, Ore.

Firefighters from Oregon and other nationwide agencies meet at Chiloquin High School before heading toward the Bootleg Fire, Tuesday, July 13, 2021, in Chiloquin, Ore.

Operations Section Chief Bert Thayer examines a map of the Bootleg Fire, Tuesday, July 13, 2021, in Chiloquin, Ore.

Smoke fills the air near the Bootleg Fire, Tuesday, July 13, 2021, near Sprague River, Ore.

Kim Berge, left, holds her kitten River for an examination by veterinarian Tawnia Shaw after evacuating to a Red Cross shelter near the Bootleg Fire on Tuesday, July, 13, 2021 in Klamath Falls, Ore.

An aerial image of the Bootleg fire on July 13, 2021.

The Bootleg Fire, burning on the Fremont-Winema National Forest.

An aerial view of the Bootleg Fire taken on July 7, 2021.


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