Email contact — Goldenfireinfo2023@gmail.com
Public Information Line: (541) 887-0928
InciWeb — inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/or98s-golden-fire
Facebook — www.facebook.com/GoldenFire2023/
Size: 2,137 acres
Containment: 27%
Start Date: July 22, 2023, 1:02 p.m.
Expected Containment Date: August 7, 2023
Location: 11 miles north of Bonanza, Oregon
Cause: Under investigation
Cost: $6,200,000
Personnel: 506
Resources:
15 hand crews
19 Engines
3 Dozers
9 water tenders
Aircraft: 7
Evacuations:
Level 2 (SET) • all areas inside the fire perimeter.
Structures Threatened: 208
Primary Structures Destroyed: 48
Primary Structures Damaged: 3
Outbuildings Destroyed: 69
Outbuildings Damaged: 4
Closures: Currently none.
Containment grows to 27% as crews focus on mop up and residents begin to return to homes.
Bonanza, OR – Firefighters continue mop-up operations as they achieve 27% containment and cool burnt areas 100 feet within the fire’s edge.
Today, firefighters will focus on expanding containment and working in unburnt areas, or “islands,” within the fire’s perimeter. Hand crews are securing those areas and cooling portions of the line that are still smoldering and burning.
Elsewhere, hand crews are using infrared sensors to find and extinguish hot spots along the fire’s outer edges. The National Weather Service has declared a Fire Weather Watch over the fire area due to low humidity and gusty winds. Officials urge residents to be mindful of their midday activities and follow fire precautions. Crews will continue to patrol the fireline regularly and remain alert and respond to any new fire activity.
Evacuation changes: The Klamath County Sheriff’s Office reduced evacuation levels for the Golden Fire to Level 2 (be ready) for all areas within the fire perimeter east of highway 140. All other evacuations were lifted. Incident officials urge residents to be cautious while driving around or within affected areas as firefighters and utility workers work in the area.
Additional updates can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/goldenfire2023/.
Weather: The fire area is currently under Red Flag and Fire Weather Watch conditions. Today’s weather will generate potential for active fire behavior. Wind and lowering relative humidity (RH) will produce critical fire weather over the fire area. High temps, low RH, and windy afternoon conditions will persist for the next several days. Winds will continue to increase in speed as over the next few days.
Evacuations: American Red Cross and Klamath County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) have established an evacuation shelter at: Bonanza School, 31601 Mission Street, Bonanza, OR 97623. For the latest evacuation information call the Klamath County hotline (541) 205-9730. To sign up for Klamath County alerts, visit https://alerts.klamathcounty.org.