7/26/2023 Golden Fire Update

 

Golden Fire morning update for Wednesday, July 26

July 26, 2023

Email contact — Goldenfireinfo2023@gmail.com
Public Information Line: (541) 887-0928
InciWeb — inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/or98s-golden-fire
Facebook — www.facebook.com/GoldenFire2023/

Size: 2,112 acres
Containment: 15%
Start Date: July 22, 2023, 1:02 p.m.
Expected Containment Date: August 7, 2023
Location: 11 miles north of Bonanza, Oregon
Cause: Under investigation
Cost: $4,500,000.00
Personnel: 635
Resources:
14 hand crews
47 Engines
4 Dozers
14 Water Tenders
Aircraft: 7

Evacuations:
Level 3 (GO NOW)- evacu- ation area is now reduced to a quarter-mile perime- ter around the fire and
the interior of the fire.
Evacuation is maintained along Hummingbird Drive and Sandpiper Drive.
Level 2 (SET)- West of Bechdoldt Flat Rd, south of Racoon Lane, Jaguar Lane, and east 3-4 miles
to the powerline corridor.
Level 1 (READY)- West of Highway 140 to Golden Eagle Drive and north to Parrot Drive.

Structures Threatened: 317
Primary Structures Destroyed: 43
Outbuildings Destroyed: 43
Closures: Currently none.

Bonanza, OR – Crews have made significant progress on the Golden Fire. Containment has increased to 15% and the fire perimeter is now fully lined. Crews continued mop-up operations through the night and checked for hot spots. Today, crews will continue to secure, improve, and hold control lines. Mop-up operations will continue, working toward the goal of 100% containment. Due to successful mop-up operations, electric utility contractors and fiber optic employees now have access to safely restore connectivity to residents in the coming days.

Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) resources will wrap up their work, expanding mop-up to 50 feet around structures and assisting wildland partners. OSFM resources will begin demobilizing three task forces this morning, leaving three structural task forces assigned to the fire. All remaining OSFM task forces and the Incident Management Blue Team will head back to their home agencies tomorrow.

Klamath County Sherriff’s Office has released a statement ruling out a marijuana grow as the cause of the fire. The cause remains under investigation.

Last night, fire officials held a meeting at Bonanza School, with approximately 125 attendees. The Incident Management Teams appreciate the impressive community participation and support. Attendees expressed their gratitude for the rapid response and hard work of local agencies, OSFM and Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) resources, and wildland fire partners.

Additional updates can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/goldenfire2023/.

Weather: Today’s weather will generate potential for active fire behavior. Wind and low relative humidity (RH) will produce critical fire weather over the fire area. High temps, low RH, and windy afternoon conditions will persist for the next several days.

Evacuations: Evacuation orders remain in place, but levels have decreased.

American Red Cross and Klamath County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) have established an evacuation shelter at: Bonanza School, 31601 Mission Street, Bonanza, OR 97623. For the latest evacuation information call the Klamath County hotline (541) 205-9730. To sign up for Klamath County alerts, visit https://alerts.klamathcounty.org.