It’s zero percent contained.
ODF’s Jennifer Case said “there’s multiple fires around us so who knows if we’ll get smoke blown in from other areas.”
The Van Meter Fire is currently burning on Stukel Mountain, 13 miles southeast of Klamath Falls.
The fire has already destroyed 5 structures and fire officials said another 260 are threatened.
Case said, “wind is definitely a concern. Hopefully they have good containment lines towards the south part of the fire so that they’re able to keep it there and keep it from spreading further to the south.”
Since the fire started Wednesday, ODF has been working on getting more resources to the fire.
Case said a new incident management team assumed command of the fire Thursday evening.
“With the type one team coming in, that just means more resources are going to be allocated to the fire, more overhead as well as ground resources and air,” she said.
Right now, there is a Level Three evacuation order for the Dodds Hollow area north of the town of Merrill.
There’s a Level Two evacuation notice from Crystal Springs Road east of Hill Road and South Poe Valley Road from Crystal Springs Road to Weber Road.
There is also a Level Two evacuation notice from Harpold Road West to Hill Road North of Taylor Road, just north of the town Merrill.
For residents affected by evacuation orders, the Red Cross set up a shelter at the Klamath County Fairgrounds.
Shelter Worker Sharon Evoy said, “we’ll be here 24/7 until the Level Three evacuation notices are lifted.”
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