KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. — The Copperfield Fire has prompted Level 3 evacuation orders to the east of Chiloquin, about 20 miles north of Klamath Falls. The wildfire began Sunday and had grown to about 3,241 acres as of Monday evening.
The Klamath County Sheriff's Office issued the Level 3 evacuation notices for areas to the north and south of Sprague River Road near the intersection with Williamson River Road, and Sprague River Road itself is closed through the area except for evacuees and fire personnel. A map is available on on the Klamath County website.
Evacuation areas have been set up at the Klamath County Fairgrounds in Klamath Falls, according to the website, including disaster shelters, RV parking and livestock boarding.
Fire crews first responded to the fire at around 3 p.m. Sunday, but gusty wind conditions caused it to grow rapidly, reaching an estimated 1,000 acres by 7:30 p.m. and then growing to an estimated 1,500-2,000 acres by 8 p.m., according to news releases from the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) and the Oregon State Fire Marshal's office.
Gov. Tina Kotek invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act for the fire on Sunday night, and ODF mobilized additional crews and an incident management team. The crews worked overnight to create a line around the fire, starting to the south and working their way up the east and west sides, according to an agency news release.
Crews will work on extending the line across the north side of the fire on Monday, aiming to "stop forward progression," with air resources to help with suppression. Weather conditions are challenging, according to Teresa Williams, forester for the Klamath-Lake-Forest District. West winds on Monday are expected to create difficulties along the eastern fire lines.
The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for the area that remains in effect through 8 p.m. Monday, due to low humidity and strong winds with gusts up to 40 mph, which can cause wildfires to spread more quickly.
"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," Klamath County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Travis Medema said in a statement. "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."
Here's what evacuation levels mean
Level 1 Notice - Be Ready: Residents should be aware of the danger that exists in their area and monitor local media outlets for information. Residents with special needs should take note and begin making arrangements to evacuate. Evacuations at this time are voluntary.
Level 2 Notice - Be Set: This level indicates there is significant danger to your area, and residents should either voluntarily relocate to a shelter or outside of the affected area, or if choosing to remain, to be ready at a moment's notice. Emergency services cannot guarantee that they will be able to notify you if conditions rapidly deteriorate.
Level 3 Notice - Go Now: Danger to your area is current or imminent, and you should leave immediately. Listen to local media and watch for emergency personnel who may be coming by to give further instructions regarding the evacuation.
