Ore. Bootleg Fire surpasses 300K acres, forecasters predict gusty winds, low humidity ahead


In this photo provided by the Bootleg Fire Incident Command, the Bootleg Fire burns at night near Highway 34 in southern Oregon on Thursday, July 15, 2021. Firefighters scrambled Friday to control a raging inferno in southeastern Oregon that's spreading miles a day in windy conditions, one of numerous wildfires across the U.S. West that are straining resources. The Bootleg Fire, the largest wildfire burning in the U.S., has torched more than 377 square miles (976 square kilometers), and crews had little control of it. (Jason Pettigrew/Bootleg Fire Incident Command via AP)

In this photo provided by the Bootleg Fire Incident Command, the Bootleg Fire burns at night near Highway 34 in southern Oregon on Thursday, July 15, 2021. (Jason Pettigrew/Bootleg Fire Incident Command via AP)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 9:56 AM PT – Monday, July 19, 2021

The Bootleg Fire in Oregon has torched more than 300,000 acres. According to fire officials, the blaze is around 25 percent contained as more than 2,000 personnel are working on the frontlines.

Authorities said red flag weather conditions hurt firefighting efforts on Saturday as gusty winds and low humidity continued to fuel the blaze. The wildfire is large and quickly progressing. Officials noted evacuation orders are rapidly changing due to the nature of the fire.

“Weather’s really against us; it’s gonna be hot, it’s gonna be dry and air’s gonna be unstable which just helps the heat raise faster,” stated John Flannigan, Operations Section Chief. “All things that are negative for firefighters and positive for fire, so it’s gonna be a real battle today.”

Oregon’s Bootleg Fire is just one of several burning across the Western United States. Local authorities are urging residents to evacuate their homes and travel to safety.

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Amber Coakley
Author: Amber Coakley

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