FINAL UPDATE: Thursday, Sept. 17, 11:00 a.m. ...
There is another Red Flag warning from 2pm to 8pm over the fire
area today. Crews have used the past few days to continue to strengthen
the fire lines against any weather event. A slight chance of light rain is
forecast for the fire area tonight which will help firefighters in their containment efforts.
The two small fires the Team responded to yesterday are outside
the main fire area, are contained, and in mop up status. The Dam Fire is
located near Chiloquin Ridge and is two acres. The Cattle Fire is located
near the Rainbow Park area and is 20 acres. These are not spot fires from
the Two Four Two fire. The cause of these fires is under investigation.
Crews will continue to work on strengthening containment lines
around the fire. The west side of the fire, west of Hwy 62 near the Agency
Creek area, has the most heat. Eliminating hot spots will continue to be a
goal until the fire is 100% contained.
Unless fire conditions change, this will be the final upadte on the Two Four Two Fire.
UPDATE: Wednesday, Sept. 16, 8:00 a.m. ...
There is a Red Flag Warning for our area for gusty winds and low relative humidity today. The weather continues to be dry and we are ex-pecting to see gusts up to 20 mph today. In anticipation of the winds, crews continue working hard to eliminate hot spots along the perimeter of the fire.
Yesterday there were two new fire starts within the surrounding area of the Two Four Two Fire. The Cattle Fire is east of the Two Four Two Fire in the Pine Ridge Estates. It burned in grass and grew to 5 acres.
The second start, named the Dam Fire, was off of Twin Rivers Road. That fire grew to 2.25 acres. Multiple engines were pulled from the Two Four Two Fire line to assist Chiloquin Fire Department and local resources with these new fires.
Crews will continue mop up operations and patrol both of these fires today. Both fires are under investigation.
Highway 97 will have areas of traffic control points so crews can fall hazard trees. The highway will remain open during this work.
UPDATE: Tuesday, Sept. 15, 5:45 a.m. ...
The high winds forecast for Monday did not arrive over the fire. Firefighters and the National Guard troops improved the fire’s control line and held the fire Monday.
Chiloquin Fire Chief Mike Cook Monday night announced the suspension of all evacuation orders on the Two Four Two Fire,
"We are lifting all evacuation orders effective Tuesday at 9 a.m. September, 15. Access to Road 422 North will be at noon. Highway 62 and Road 422 remain closed to the public."
After the orders expire residents can enter these areas. They must
show proof of residency before entering. Non-residents cannot enter.
Monday night's Facebook Live meeting in available on the fire's Facebook page.
UPDATE: Monday, Sept. 14, 11:00 a.m. ...
The perimeter of the Two Four Two wildfire near Collier Springs on the Fremont-Winema National Forest in Klamath County remains stable. The fire has burned 14,584 acres and is now 12 percent contained.
Last night an infrared flight was able to capture the fires hot spots. Today crews will focus on extinguishing those as well as focusing on mop-ping up around the perimeter.
“Everyday we’ll get a little deeper and a little deeper into the fire's perimeter” states Operations Section Chief, John Pelliser.
Yesterday we did not get the wind event that forecasters predicted. But crews are working hard to reinforce lines and secure areas with a lot of heat. Today’s forecast calls for a Red Flag Warning from noon to 9 pm today.
We will be holding our third Facebook live virtual community meeting tonight at 7 pm. Tune into our Facebook page for the latest up-dates. The public does not have to have a Facebook to watch the live event, use this linkhttps://www.facebook.com/events/351351509239951
All evacuation levels remain the same. Current evacuation levels are shown to the right. We do not expect them to change until after the Red Flag Warnings expire and the predicted winds end.
UPDATE: Sunday, Sept. 13, 11:45 a.m. ...
Crews on the Two Four Two Fire are working further into the fires interior. Fire-fighters will be bringing in water pumps and laying hose. Starting at the established control lines crews will work inwards cooling hot spots and
cleaning up around structures.
With today’s wind advisory, winds will be coming in from the
southwest and blowing to the northeast. Crews will be working on the
north side of the fire, strengthening the control and contingency lines. The
wind will be testing the control lines.
The fire still has planes and helicopters available, but until the thick smoke clears they are unable to fly.
The National Guard is setting up their camp at the rodeo grounds
on Chiloquin Boulevard.
UPDATE: Saturday, Sept. 12, 9:00 a.m. ...
Officials at the Oregon Department of Forestry and the National Forest Service say the to Four Two fire’s footprint has remained about the same for the last 24 hours. Crews are close to having a control line around the fire.
Last night firefighters completed a line around the fire. The fire is
14,450 acres and seven percent contained.
All evacuation levels remain the same for today. Firefighters are
assessing evacuated areas.
Crews constructed contingency lines north of the fire and will continue improving those lines.
In anticipation of high winds on Sunday, crews are scouting for and building contingency lines.
Today’s goal is to secure, improve, and hold control lines. Crews
will continue securing the areas around structures and putting out hot
spots. Engines will be patrolling the perimeter to hold the control line.
As firefighters search for and put out the hot spots, they create a wider line
without heat. Those lines will become containment lines.
On Friday, crews along 97 removed dead trees that pose a danger. They are working on widening the control line to 25 feet.
Firefighters removed hot spots along the control line to the south between Highways 97 and 62.
From the southwest corner, north along Highway 62, teams did work
around homes and improved the control line.
The control line across the north side is almost complete and what is in place held the fire overnight.
There was a Facebook live virtual community meeting Friday evening. It's available on the Two Four Two Fire Facebook page.
Contact Information
Email: twofourtwofire.information.gmail.com
Public Information Line: (541) 846-8174
Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7159/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/TwoFourTwoFire/
UPDATE: Friday, Sept. 11, 11:45 ...
The Two Four Two Fire northwest of Chiloquin is now 5% contained with a footprint of 12,640 acres.
Officials say fire activity increased overnight on the northwest side of the fire, but crews were able to limit the growth. In a briefing Friday morning, an official indicated that fire lines have been successfully established around much of the fire, but work will continue to ensure the lines are holding and any spot fires are extinguished.
Officials say 35 structures have been destroyed and another 70 damaged.
The fire started Monday evening.
Today, firefighters will work the perimeter of the fire looking for
and putting out any hot spots and reinforcing the containment lines. On
the northwest corner of the fire, crews and bulldozers will work on closing
the line around the fire. Crews will be seen along highway 97 and highway
62 working to hold and strengthen containment lines.
The level 1 (“Get Ready”) evacuation notice in that area remains in place for Highway
62 from milepost 94 to Sun Mountain Road.
Be aware of the following road closures: Modoc Point Rd from highway 62 to milepost 1, Highway 62 from milepost 94 to milepost 100, and Highway 422 north from Highway
97 to Highway 62.
UPDATE: Wednesday, Sept. 9, 3:30 p.m. ...
The Two Four Two Fire continues to burn on the Chiloquin Ranger District and the surrounding area.
An Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Type 2 Incident Management Team assumed command of the incident this morning. The incident is a unified command with ODF and the U.S. Forest Service.
The fire is estimated to be approximately 10,000 acres with 5 percent containment. The cause is under investigation.
The Two Four Two Fire is burning in dried grass, brush and timber with extreme fire behavior. Growth yesterday was wind-driven, with movement in all directions. Multiple structures are threatened. Fire managers are still assessing structures that may have been lost.
A new fire information line has been established at 541-846-8174. Fire information can also be reached at twofourtwofire.information@gmail.com.
There is a public meeting scheduled tonight at 7 p.m. through Facebook Live at www.facebook.com/SCOFMPFIREINFO. The page is public and the meeting can be viewed even if you don’t have a Facebook account. Questions can be submitted in advance of the event through the SCOFMP Facebook account or by contacting Fire Information through the provided phone number and email.
The Klamath County Sheriff’s Office asks area residents to please use texting and social media to update family members on their status. Communication lines are being bogged down due to increased cellphone traffic, resulting in challenges for calls to be connected.
U.S. Highway 97 is now open, one-lane with a pilot car between Oregon State Highway 62 south of Chiloquin north to the intersection with Forest Road 9732 at Oux Kanee Overlook.
All other road closures and evacuation orders remain in place.
Oregon State Highway 422 North is closed between Highway 97 and Oregon State Highway 62. Highway 62 is closed from the junction with Highway 97 north to the State Fish Hatchery. The Oregon State Police and Oregon Department of Transportation are handling highway road closures.
Klamath County Sheriff’s Deputies and local fire departments have conducted evacuations in the area since Monday night.
Level 3 Evacuation – Collier State Park; residents west of the State Park; Woodland Park; Oregon Shores 1, north of Maidu Road; residents in the area north of the Road 422 and Highway 62 junction east of the Wood River, south of Crooked Creek between Wood River and the State Fish Hatchery; west of Highway 97 near mile post 243, residents near Spring Creek.
Level 2 Evacuation – south of Maidu Road, west of Highway 62, including Oregon Shores 2. Residents should be prepared if there is a need for immediate evacuation.
The Red Cross has established an evacuation center at Kla-Mo-Ya south of Chiloquin. Evacuees or those with questions are advised to not call 911 unless it is an emergency, but instead go to Kla-Mo-Ya in person. The Klamath County Fairgrounds are also available for evacuees with trailers or animals. RV hook-ups and animal holding facilities are available.
There are currently 19 engines, four handcrews, eight dozers, four water-tenders and multiple air resources including two lead planes, 11 single-engine airtankers, and three helicopters assigned to the fire. More resources are being ordered. Because of heat and smoke, the use of air resources has been limited.
When air resources are available, Klamath Lake is being used to scoop water. Boaters are advised to be aware of their surroundings and avoid areas where aircraft is operating over the water. Williamson River and Spring Creek are also being used for dip sites.
The Two Four Two Fire was discovered Monday near Williamson River Campground on the Fremont-Winema National Forest Chiloquin Ranger District.
For more information, visit the SCOFMP Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SCOFMPFIREINFO or Inciweb at www.inciweb.nwcg.gov.
UPDATE: Tuesday, Sept. 8, 9:00 p.m. ...
The fire is now estimated to be approximately 6,000 acres with no containment. The cause is under investigation.
The Two Four Two Fire is burning in dried grass, brush and timber.
It’s growth is wind-driven due to a Red Flag Warning in effect until midnight for strong gusty winds and low relative humidity. Today the fire continues to move in all directions. Multiple structures are threatened. Fire managers are still assessing structures that may have been lost.
U.S. Highway 97 remains closed between Oregon State Highway 62 south of Chiloquin north to the intersection with Forest Road 9732 at Oux Kanee Overlook. Oregon State Highway 422 North is closed between Highway 97 and Oregon State Highway 62. Highway 62 is closed from the junction with Highway 97 north to the State Fish Hatchery. The Oregon State Police and Oregon Department of Transportation are handling highway road closures.
Klamath County Sheriff’s Deputies and local fire departments have been conducting evacuations in the area since last night. This included Collier State Park and residents west of the State Park, as well as residents of Woodland Park remain in a Level 3 Evacuation.
A Level 3 Evacuation for Oregon Shores 1, north of Maidu Road, was issued this morning and most residents have evacuated. There is a new Level 3 Evacuation for residents in the area north of the Road 422 and Highway 62 junction east of the Wood River, south of Crooked Creek between Wood River and the State Fish Hatchery. Residences, if not already evacuated should evacuate now.
On the north end of the fire, west of Highway 97 near mile post 243, there is active fire north of Spring Creek. Residents in this area near Spring Creek should evacuate.
The area south of Maidu Road, west of Highway 62, including Oregon Shores 2, is currently under a Level 2 Evacuation. This means residents should be prepared if there is a need for immediate evacuation.
The Red Cross has established an evacuation center at Kla-Mo-Ya south of Chiloquin. There is not a number set up for the evacuation center yet. Evacuees or those with questions are advised to not call 911 unless it is an emergency, but instead go to Kla-Mo-Ya in person. The Klamath County Fairgrounds are also available for evacuees with trailers or animals. RV hook-ups and animal holding facilities are available.
There are currently 24 engines, two handcrews, five dozers and multiple air resources including one lead plane, three single-engine airtankers, two scooper aircraft, one large helicopter and two Type 2 helicopters on the fire today. More resources are being ordered. Because of heat and smoke, the use of air resources has been limited.
When air resources are available, Klamath Lake is being used to scoop water. Boaters are advised to be aware of their surroundings and avoid areas where aircraft is operating over the water. Williamson River and Spring Creek are also being used for dip sites.
ORIGINAL POST: The so-called Two Four Two Fire is burning off of U.S. Highway 97 north of Chiloquin.
The fire began growing rapidly Monday evening and has moved at least four miles from its initial reported location near Williamson River Campground, moving to the south-southwest. As of early Tuesday morning, the fire was burning on both sides of Highway 97 with extreme fire behavior. At 6:00 a.m. it was estimated to be more than 2,000 acres with no containment.
Klamath County Sheriff’s Office and local fire departments are conducting extensive evacuations in the area.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
Currently there are 20 engines, 2 handcrews and 5 dozers assigned to the fire. Additional resources have been ordered.
U.S. Highway 97 is currently closed from the junction with Oregon State Highway 62 south of Chiloquin to Forest Road 9732 at Oux Kanee Overlook. Oregon State Highway 422 North is also closed, as well as Highway 62 between Highway 97 and Highway 422 North.
Collier State Park was evacuated Monday evening. Early this morning the fire jumped Hwy 422 North, creating a Level 3 (“Go Now!”) evacuation extending from the south side of Hwy 422 North to the junction of Hwy 97 and Hwy 62 south of Chiloquin.
Anyone to the south-southwest of the fire, including the Agency Lake area, is advised to be organized and ready for evacuation. They should be prepared to leave immediately if necessary.
The fire is currently active between Hwy 97 to the east, Hwy 62 to the west, Hwy 422 North and Hwy 422 South. It continues to be wind-driven, moving to the south and southwest
The Red Cross is establishing an evacuation center at Kla-Mo-Ya south of Chiloquin. There is not a number set up for the evacuation center yet. Evacuees or those with questions are advised to not call 911 unless it is an emergency, but instead go to Kla-Mo-Ya in person.
There is still a Red Flag Warning in the area Tuesday from 10 a.m. to midnight for strong gusty winds and low relative humidity.
