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Big progress on Golden Fire in Klamath County, now 83% contained; crews demobilize, evacuation alert ends

Aerial view of the area affected by the Golden Fire
Golden Fire 2023/Facebook
Aerial view of the area affected by the Golden Fire

(Update: Monday evening update)

BONANZA, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Major progress continues to be made on the 2,137-acre Golden Fire in Klamath County, as crews demobilize and the blaze reached 83% containment by Monday evening.

A firefighting force that approached 500 was down to less than 100 late Monday.

Here's Monday evening's update:

Fire size: 2,137 acres
Containment: 83%
Resources assigned:
91
http://www.facebook.com/goldenfire2023/
Fire information:
541-887-0928
https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident
-information/or98s-golden-fire

(Earlier info)
Location: North of Bonanza,
Oregon
Cause: Under investigation
Est. Cost: $7,400,000.00
Personnel: 491
Evacuations: Level 2 (SET) • all areas
inside the fire perimeter.
Structures
Threatened: 266*
Primary Structures
Destroyed: 48
Primary Structures
Damaged: 3
Outbuildings
Destroyed: 69
Outbuildings
Damaged: 4
Closures: Currently none.

*Prior reports listed 208 structures.
They should have reflected 266.

Final Update as local Type 4 team takes command tomorrow at 8 a.m.

BONANZA, Ore. – Transition to the local Type 4 team will happen tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. The incident objectives for the local team will remain the same. Multiple engines and crews will continue to mop up where warranted. A thank you video from Oregon Department of Forestry’s Incident Management Team 2 (ODF IMT2) is posted on YouTube and can be view at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTdudxihNAE&feature=youtu.be

This will be the final fire update from the ODF IMT2. Beginning tomorrow, additional information can be found at the South-Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership site at: https://www.facebook.com/SCOFMPFIREINFO. The team would like to thank the cooperators and public for their support during the fire. Without local resources and support from the community our team would not have been as successful.

Today, crews worked on last minute touch-ups to prepare for demobilization. “With the fire containment reaching 83%, I am confident that we can continue the great work that has been put in,” states the incoming Incident Commander of the Type 4 team, Matt Anspach.

The weather for tomorrow will be hot and dry, but with little to light wind. Later in the week there is a chance for dry lightning. Storms are expected to generate strong outflow winds.

Evacuations downgraded as of Thursday, July 27 at 11:00 a.m.:  

Level 2 (BE READY) - all areas inside the fire perimeter.

Release Tuesday morning from Klamath County Emergency Management:

Bonanza, Ore- The Klamath County Sheriff’s Office has lifted all evacuation levels for the Golden Fire. The Red Cross evacuation shelter at Bonanza High School has been closed. Please be mindful while traveling in the area.

Fire crews will remain within the fire perimeter over the next several days, also repair crews from Pacific Power and Lumen will continue to repair damage caused by the Golden Fire.

For the most current evacuation information, call the Klamath County hotline at 541-205-9730, and sign up for Klamath County alerts at http://alerts.klamathcounty.org. The American Red Cross is handing out cleaning kits to those affected by the fire. They are located at Living Springs Church, 31601 Mission Street, Bonanza, Oregon 97623.

Recovery Contact Information

Information for services and resources for those impacted by the community with unmet needs, residential cleanup guidance, disaster social services and donations are available here: https://tinyurl.com/bddatnxv.

We would like to remind the public that Klamath and Lake counties are in extreme fire danger. Human-caused fires are preventable, so please help your local resources by preventing anything that can spark a fire. Visit https://www.oregon.gov/odf/fire/pages/restrictions.aspx for fire restrictions in your area or areas you may be traveling to.

Article Topic Follows: Fire Alert

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