Weather may impact Klondike Fire

SELMA, Ore. — Weather changes predicted for tomorrow and Saturday are making firefighters nervous as they try to get a handle on the Southern flank of the Klondike Fire.

The weather is expected to bring shifts in wind, which is a concern for firefighters protecting homes and structures in the Illinois River drainage.

That’s because in a drainage, fire can spread uphill much faster by causing multiple spot fires.

“It could push it faster and it could also get winds coming from the west here that could push it up into here.,” said Casey Boespflug, firefighter. “We’re really just trying to protect it from any winds that we get here…either an east wind or a west wind.”

Tomorrow, the heavy smoke is also expected to lift causing the fire to potentially spread much faster.
But firefighters call it a double edged sword since the lack of smoke also allows firefighters to use aircraft to protect homes and structures.

© 2024 KOBI-TV NBC5. All rights reserved unless otherwise stated.

Skip to content