The ‘Bryant’ fire has now blackened more than 2 square miles in southern Klamath County…and as crews work to get the upper-hand, investigators being looking for a cause.
Fire crews are working hard to strengthen a fragile line around the Bryant fire.
“The fire is now 45% contained.” Noted Chris Friend of the Oregon Department of Forestry. “We’re about 1,361 acres in size.”
The Bryant fire is even big enough for its own T-shirt.
Matthew Foley and his contract crew from GHR are busy putting out hot spots…
“Mop-up is just as important part of the job as any of it is – because if you don’t mop it up and clean it up, you still have it.”
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
The Bryant fire was sparked Thursday afternoon on private land owned by JWTR about 10 miles southeast of Bonanza.
Bonanza has a population of less than 500…and the town is serving as a base for nearly 1000 firefighters.
As nearly 10 miles of fire lines are strengthened, Chris Friend notes that some of those crews will head off to fight other fires…
“Some of our personnel, and some of the equipment is being released from the fire.”
Helicopters are still looking for hot spots from the air.
And while much of the fire is in mop-up stage, Matthew Foley points out that doesn’t mean the fire no longer poses a hazard…
“Oh, yeah. It’s where you get complacent – you don’t think about things as much as you should.”
It has cost over two and a half million dollars to fight the Bryant fire so far.
No structures have been lost, and no injuries have been reported as a result of the fire.
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