Crews make progress on 3,656-acre Copperfield Fire SE of Chiloquin after first-day damage to 7 homes, 10 outbuildings
(Update: Tuesday update; FEMA authorizes federal funds)
CHILOQUIN, Ore. (KTVZ) – A wind-fanned wildfire reported Sunday afternoon southeast of Chiloquin grew to over 3,600 acres by Tuesday after prompting area evacuations, damaging several homes and other structures. Gov. Tina Kotek to declare a conflagration, bringing state task forces in, and FEMA also has approved federal disaster assistance.
The Copperfield Fire was detected around 3 p.m. Sunday about five miles southeast of Chiloquin and grew to about 1,000 acres by that evening, “with high fire potential,” according to the Oregon Department of Forestry.
Copperfield Fire - Tuesday morning update:
Fire information resources:
InciWeb: Copperfield Fire - OR98S
Facebook: Copperfield Fire 2024
Email: CopperfieldFire2024.Info@gmail.com
FIRE AT A GLANCE
Estimated Size: 3,656 acres
Containment: 0%
Cause: Under Investigation
Estimated Cost: $500,000
Primary residences destroyed: 7
Other buildings destroyed: 10
Evacuations
Klamath County Emergency
Management
Road Closures
Sprague River Rd from MP 5 to MP 15
For road closure updates, visit:
https://www.tripcheck.com
Resources
Hand Crews: 3
Engines: 36
Water Tenders: 8
Dozers: 7
Helicopters: 4
Other Fixed: 8
VLAT 1
Total Personnel: 286
ODF Incident Commander
Tyler McCarty
OSFM Incident Commander:
Ian Yocum
Chiloquin, Ore. – Crews were able to make significant progress on the fire last night, aided by lower temperatures and higher relative humidity. The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Team 3 and Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) Red Team are working in unified command to contain the fire, protect homes as well as critical infrastructure.
Additionally, representatives of the Klamath Tribe are working with fire officials to ensure protection to cultural sites and assess if any sites were impacted during the first night of firefighting.
Unfortunately, it was discovered that seven primary residences may have been impacted on the first day of the fire, along with several outbuildings, but are pending assessments of damage by Klamath County Emergency Management and assisted by OSFM.
Today temperatures will begin to warm up, but the high winds firefighters contended with yesterday will significantly calm down. This will allow fire crews to strengthen lines around the fire to try and hold within the present footprint.
Structural task forces from Lane, Deschutes, Polk/Marion, Linn, Clatsop, and Washington counties will be focused on protecting homes near the fire, mopping up around structures, and fortifying critical infrastructure protection measures.
Multiple air resources will continue working the fire today, including helicopters and other fixed wing aircraft. As a reminder, drones interfere with aircraft on the fire line, please do not fly drones in the fire area – “If you fly, we can’t”.
Community members and visitors in the area are advised to stay safe and stay informed. Visit https://www.klamathcounty.org/300/Emergency-Management for up-to-date information on evacuations and evacuee resources. A road closure remains in effect on the Sprague River Highway between mile markers 5 and 15. Visit www.tripcheck.com to get the latest on road closure changes. More information will continue to be posted and shared to the fire information Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CopperfieldFire2024.
Evacuation shelters have been set up at the Chiloquin Community Center at 140 S 1st Ave. in Chiloquin, as well as the Klamath Falls Fairgrounds at 3531 S 6th St. in Klamath Falls. Large animals can also be accommodated at the Fairgrounds.
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FEMA Authorizes Funds to Fight Copperfield Fire in Oregon
BOTHELL, Wash. - The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Copperfield Fire burning in Klamath County, Oregon.
The state of Oregon’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) was approved by FEMA Region 10 Administrator Willie G. Nunn on Sunday, September 1, 2024, at 11:58 p.m. PT. He determined that the Copperfield Fire threatened to cause such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. This is the eleventh FMAG declared in 2024 to help fight Oregon wildfires.
At the time of the state’s request, the wildfire threatened homes in and around the community of Chiloquin. The fire also threatened active recreation areas and power transmission and distribution infrastructure.
FMAGs are provided through the President's Disaster Relief Fund and are made available by FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to cause a major disaster. Eligible items can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; mobilization and demobilization activities; and tools, materials and supplies. This authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating, and controlling designated fires. These grants do not provide assistance to individual home or business owners and do not cover other infrastructure damage caused by the fire.
In addition to the firefighting funds authorized under this FMAG, another $985,111 will be available to Oregon through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) Post Fire for the mitigation of future wildfires and related hazards, such as flood after fire or erosion. Some eligible wildfire project types include defensible space measures, ignition-resistant construction and hazardous fuels reduction. The Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018 authorizes FEMA to provide HMGP Post-Fire funds to eligible states and territories that receive Fire Management Assistance declarations and federally recognized tribes that have land burned within a designated area.
Earlier info:
“Due to unfavorable weather conditions, this is a rapidly evolving incident,” said Teresa Williams, Klamath-Lake District forester. “We’re grateful to have the help of the incident management teams in managing and working to contain this fire and protect our communities.”
Governor Tina Kotek invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act Sunday night for the fire, according to the Oregon State Fire Marshal's Office. As of 8 p.m., the fire was estimated between 1,500 and 2,000 acres, as winds gusting to near 40 mph pushed its rapid growth.
By 4:30 p.m., there already were six engines, five air tankers, two helicopters, two water tenders and four bulldozers on scene, with more resources on the way and night operations gearing up. ODF's Klamath-Lake District joined federal, state, local and private partners battling the blaze.
The Klamath County Sheriff’s Office ordered Level 3 GO NOW evacuations along milepost 6-7 of Sprague River Road, which also was closed between Williamson River Road and Lone Pine Road for evacuations and fire operations. Wider areas were under Level 2 BE SET and Level 1 BE READY pre-evacuation notices.
A map and info are at https://www.klamathcounty.org/300/Emergency-Management. You can also track fire updates at: https://app.watchduty.org/i/32838.
The South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership reported that residents who needed to leave the area and head west were told an evacuation center was being set up at the Chiloquin Community Center. Those headed east on Sprague River Highway were being asked to head to the town of Sprague River.
Shelters were set up at the Chiloquin Community Center, 140 S. First Avenue and the Klamath Falls Fairgrounds, 3531 S. Sixth Street, Building 2 (blue building).
The National Weather Service in Pendleton upgraded a fire weather watch to a red flag warning for areas including the Klamath Basin and south-central Oregon from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday for strong gusty winds and low humidity bringing critical fire weather conditions.
ODF’s Incident Management Team 3 was mobilized Sunday night to the fire burning in the Klamath-Lake District. The team will in brief at 1:00 p.m. Monday and will enter unified command with the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Red Team at 6:00 p.m.
The OSFM Red Incident Management Team and eight task forces are being mobilized to the fire. Two task forces from Lane County and Central Oregon are part of the response and were sent through Immediate Response earlier Sunday evening.
“The weather drove this fire, and Oregon will continue to face challenging weather conditions over the next three weeks. Fire season isn’t over yet and I encourage everyone to stay vigilant,” state Chief Deputy Fire Marshal Travis Medema said. “I cannot thank our incident management teams and task forces headed to this fire enough. They have had a busy season and responded no matter the time, no matter the situation.”
