The latest press conference including multiple agencies was held Friday evening at the Siskiyou Golden Fairgrounds to update the public on the status of the Klamathon Fire burning on the California/Oregon border. Officials reported that the fire had consumed 9,600 acres as of 6 p.m. Friday, and was only five percent contained.
Gusty unpredictable winds Friday night pushed the fire to almost double in size reaching over 20,000 acres as firefighters struggled to keep the blaze from spreading into Jackson County.
After being closed Thursday afternoon and then overnight, Interstate 5 was reopened Friday morning with a police escort and later opened to traffic later in the day. As of last report Interstate 5 is currently open in both directions.
The fire has moved into Oregon and crews from Oregon and California are working together to combat the blaze. Containment lines are being constructed between California and Oregon and it was reported that the fire is spreading and moving to the east.
Authorities confirmed that a civilian death has occurred and that 40 structures have been destroyed. The person who was killed was discovered in a structure in Hornbrook, and the manner of the individual’s death is still under investigation. The person has not yet been identified and therefore next of kin has not been notified.
Fire behavior analysts stated that the wind has changed direction and is blowing out of the north again and that a wide variety of fuels have fed the fire, from light grass and medium brush to conifer timber stands. Dry August type conditions, steep terrain and river canyons are making operations difficult from both tactical and safety situations.
Cal Fire representatives noted that the priority today, they said, was containing the southern edge of the fire, where the largest structure and civilian threat existed.
The area has been under a “red flag warning” which expired Friday evening at 6:00 pm. Officials expect wind speeds to decrease and move into a more northerly direction allowing for good humidity recovery over the next few nights.
Currently, over 600-700 firefighters are working on the incident and the number of firefighters and law enforcement assigned to the fire is expected to double, if not triple, by tomorrow afternoon.
U.S. Forest Service staff detailed evacuation orders. An evacuation order has been issued for those living on Colestein Road, from Oregon/California border to the Mount Ashland ski road, as well as those living on Highway 99 from the Oregon/California border to the Mount Ashland ski road. Areas under a level 2 or “be set” evacuation notice are the Mount Ashland ski road from Mount Ashland down to Highway 99, as well as Old Highway 99 to just below the Callahan Lodge.
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