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Lightning Strikes Ignite 2 Fires in Fremont-Winema National Forest

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: May 24, 2023

Contact:
Ken Smith, Public Relations Director,
541-783-2219 ext. 147
 kenneth.smith@klamathtribes.com

Tim Sexton, Klamath Tribes Fire Program Manager,
541-783-2019, ext. 154 
tim.sexton@klamathtribes.com

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Lightning Strikes Ignite 2 Fires in Fremont-Winema National Forest

The Klamath Tribes are working with the Forest Service and Type 3 incident Management Team to assist with location and protection of cultural resources

CHILOQUIN, Ore. The Dillon Creek and Doe fires were discovered on May 20. Both fires were started by lightning. The fires are on the Fremont-Winema National Forest. They are located about 40 miles Northeast of Chiloquin near Jackson Creek.

An interagency Type 3 Incident Management Team has been assigned. Five Hotshot Crews, nine engines and three dozers are assigned. Base camp for the fire personnel is located near the US Fish & Wildlife Klamath Forest Marsh headquarters.

The Klamath Tribes are working with the Forest Service and the Type 3 incident Management Team to assist with location and protection of cultural resources. Crews and engines are working around the indirect perimeter of the fires to strengthen containment lines by cutting and removing brush and cutting lower limbs of trees adjacent to the containment lines.

The objectives for management of the fires are to use them to restore forest conditions so that they are more resilient and productive. Large, old trees will be protected while many younger trees and shrubs that compete with old trees will be burned. Surface fuels will be burned that would otherwise contribute to high intensity fires if burned later in the season under hotter and drier conditions.

The plans for these fires are to contain them within a system of roads that analysis indicates are the safest and most effective areas to stop the fires. Crews will burn out from these roads to prevent the fires from rapid runs and spotting across the roads later in the week or next week if strong winds occur. The crews have three drones capable of aerially firing operations available to use. Burning out operations are planned to commence today. Incident Commander Evan Wright stated that he believes

they can complete all firing operations by this weekend and return the fire to local district personnel by mid-week next week (ay 31st). The final fire size is estimated to be about 3,000 acres.

Current and forecasted weather is favorable for completing all containment operations successfully.

Lightning Strikes Ignite 2 Fires in Fremont-Winema National Forest

 

Holding crew on 7645 Road near Long Prairie. Credit: Tim Sexton/Klamath Tribes