Klamath County, Lake County (Bootleg Fire)

We are currently activated to southern Oregon to assist with the bootleg fire. Cascade Relief Team has been sending in trailers full of donations to help fire survivors and evacuees.

To find ways to help and donate, to cascaderelief.org/needslist.

Here is more informaiton on the bootleg fire:

Cause: Lightning / Natural

Size: 413,762 Acres

Containment: 84%

Location

South Central Oregon Klamath & Lake Counties

Total Personnel: 1,780

Fireline Totals:

Active edge: 51 miles

Contained line: 272 miles

Property Destroyed

Residences: 161

Misc. Structures: 247

Vehicles: 342

Bootleg Fire Solar Project

Here is a video of Fire Survivor and Volunteer Gage Going over his solar system that mostly made it through the fire. https://youtu.be/onvQqVfKYWI

The bootleg fire has caused mass devastation, in the 413,000 acres the fire has burned, the fire has taken over 160 homes and over 240 outbuildings. The fire has left over 500 people displaced and in need. Cascade Relief Team has stepped up to the charge and has been taking resources in by the trailers full. This year we teamed up with a couple of amazing nonprofits to take hay to farmers who have wells that have run dry and a large amount of donations to the local resource center. In addition we have transported many donations up the sycan and have been able to put them directly into the hands of those who cannot afford to make it down to the resource center.

Much like Blue River the Sycan estates is a secluded area. It is a 45 minute drive to the resource center and another 45 minutes to the nearest laundry facility and major store. From volunteer Gage’s place who lost his home in the fire, it is a 3 hour round trip to Klamath falls and back. Many of the fire evacuees and survivors had solar prior to the fire due to limited power availability in the estates. We were able to get $5,000 worth of generators donated however this did not go very far.

Our goal is to get solar back for those who need it. Spending gas money to drive 90 minutes round trip to get gas, just to burn in the generator is costly, inefficient and is not environmentally friendly in the long run.

Through our research we found that for $3000 per dwelling, we can not just get solar back to those who need it, but the solar would be continued to be used for a lifetime. Many fire survivors of the bootleg fire are on limited income at an average of $750 a month according to fire survivor Gage. With a low fixed income it took many fire survivors 5+ years to build their solar system piece by piece just to have it wiped out in 1 day. The sheds provide not only housing for the solar system components inside but also an area to keep food away from animals and the outdoor elements. Many are camping on their properties in tents.

We are currently raising funds for 25 Solar systems.

Fire Survivor and Volunteer Gage Walking us through his solar shed that made it through the fire. Video by Niko Smart

Donate Now

Bootleg Fire Cleanup Coming soon!

Volunteers are needed with with heavy equipment and chain saws, as well as boots on the ground for helping bag and sift ash.
Volunteers will be cutting and removing several ton of steel and, many high amounts of green waste that has been burned. Fire waste will be properly bagged for legal disposal. .

The operation will continue through weekend and again on future dates as long as resources are available. Although all labor and most of the meals are being donated, there are out-of-pocket expenses, such as equipment rentals and dumping fees. proper disposal of asbestos positive ash can cost more than one thousand dollars per bin.

In order to support continuation of the cleanup effort beyond this week, we are encouraging the community to get involved whatever way they can, whether that be donation, volunteering or a combination of both.