East Fork Scott Pile Burn Response 2026

On January 14, 2026, ignition operations were completed on the East Fork Scott pile burn unit on the Scott River Ranger District, Klamath National Forest. The unit transitioned into patrol status. On January 27, a frontal wind event developed across the burn unit, with sustained winds of approximately 20 mph and gusts up to 38 mph from roughly the Southeast recorded at a nearby Remote Automatic Weather Station (RAWS). Under these conditions, residual heat sources within the unit became active and resulted in fire spread beyond the project boundary onto adjacent private lands. Based on observed fire behavior, time of day, available and responding resources, and probability of success, the individual in charge determined that containment would be achieved by the end of the operational period and that declaration of the prescribed fire as a wildfire was not warranted under the burn plan and applicable policy.