Western wildfires: Crews make progress on huge Oregon blaze

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By NATHAN HOWARD

BLY, Ore. (AP) — The nation’s largest wildfire raged through southern Oregon on Friday but crews were scaling back some night operations as hard work and weaker winds helped reduce the spread of flames even as wildfires continued to threaten homes in neighboring California.

The Bootleg Fire, which has destroyed an area half the size of Rhode Island, was 40% surrounded after burning some 70 homes, mainly cabins, fire officials said.

At least 2,000 homes were ordered evacuated at some point during the fire and an additional 5,000 were threatened.

The upper eastern edge of the blaze continued to move toward Summer Lake, jumping fire lines on Thursday and prompting a local evacuation order for some portions of Lake County to be raised to “go now!,” fire officials said.



People stand behind the fire line as the flames spread through dry grasses at the Steptoe Canyon Fire Thursday, July 22, 2021 in Colton, Wash. (August Frank/Lewiston Tribune via AP)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/fires-environment-and-nature-oregon-wildfires-934887d745b74b5bd1bd142d14d42528

[Beatlelvr]

1. Please consider this

There are organizations that help with the animal evacuations in the middle of these fires. Sometimes a news article will mention them, but not always. I look up the fire maps, look for towns in the vacinity, then search for local animal shelters or rescues. Then send a donation. Just sayin'.

[Bayard]

2. Great idea

Thanks!