Photo: Archive / JOSH EDELSON / AFP / Getty Images
With the high temperatures that are already pushing California’s electrical grid to the limit , utility officials were keeping an eye on the Bootleg Fire, which is raging in southern Oregon and threatens the Route 66, a vital power line corridor linking the state of California to the Oregon power grid.
This is a look at the fire conditions firefighters are up against on the # BootlegFire . The last few days have seen challenging weather conditions. We ask that you be # WildfireAware and do everything to prevent sparking to fire. # Wildfire # Oregon pic.twitter.com/FkUxh7ndIF
– Oregon OSFM (@OSFM) July 9, 2021
The rapidly growing forest fire has prompted mandatory evacuations, threatening about 3, 000 households. Pushed by strong winds, the Klamath County fire burn zone has grown to more than 61 square miles. The fire is not contained, according to Inciweb
“The fire will continue to move uncontrollably in all directions with unstable air conditions and extremely dry fuels,” said the National Fire Service. Forests.
# SATELLITE SPOTLIGHT: @ NOAA ‘s # GOES 17 🛰️ tracked the billowing # smoke and heat signatures from several # wildfires raging across California and Oregon yesterday evening. Seen here are the # JackFire and # BootlegFire in Ore. and the # BeckwourthComplexFire in Calif. # ORwx # CAwx pic. twitter.com/z6p3fjBrki
– NOAA Satellites – Public Affairs (@NOAASatellitePA) July 10, 2021
On Friday, California Governor Gavin Newsom dispatched fire teams of fires from Northern California to Oregon, reported CBS News .
A busy night for fire crews on the # BootlegFire at the Oregon / California border. @ Cal_OES Strike Team 2861 F assisting firefighters from both states. # mutualaid # neighborhelpingneighbor Monitor our feed for the latest information. pic.twitter.com/JEmrB3bZTZ
– Cal OES (@Cal_OES) July 10, 2861
The California Independent System Operator (CAISO) and other operators of the network were monitoring the fire as it burned in the vicinity of the California Oregon Intertie, also known as Path 66. It is a corridor of three parallel power lines of 500 kV that connects the electrical grids of Oregon and California.
All three lines are owned by PG&E, PacifiCorp, Western Area Power Administration and Transmission Agency of Northern California. PG&E officials activated the company’s Emergency Operations Center on Friday to monitor the situation and handle any eventualities.
The Fremont-Winema National Forest was partially closed on Friday and the smoke was causing visibility problems for motorists in the city of Chiloquín and surrounding areas.
The fire is one of several burning in the Western states, which are expected to experience triple digit heat over the weekend, while a high pressure zone covers the region.
A wildfire in Northern California also exploded thanks to completely dry wood, prompting authorities to Nevada to evacuate a border area community as flames leapt over nearby mountain ridges.
# BeckwourthComplex 38, 056 acres, 9 % contained. Extreme fire behavior with wind driven runs, group torching, long-range spotting. Evac Orders and Warnings in effect. Road, area and trail closures in effect including Hwy 395. Rail lines have been shut down. https: //t.co/dfnbMeskEt pic.twitter.com/6tdL3Cgk4i
– YubaNet Fire News (@YubaNetFire) July 10 , 2021
The Beckwourth Complex , a merger of two lightning-caused fires, followed Saturday with no signs of slowing its advance northeast from the Sierra Nevada forest region, after doubling in size just days earlier.