Governor Kotek Declares Emergency as Copperfield Fire Explodes in Size

Salem, Oregon- On Sunday night, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek declared a state of emergency by invoking the Emergency Conflagration Act for the Copperfield Fire, which is burning east of Chiloquin, off Sprague River Road in Klamath County. The fire, which was estimated to have spread between 1,500 to 2,000 acres as of 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, has been rapidly growing due to gusty winds reaching speeds of 40 miles per hour.

The Klamath County Sheriff’s Office has issued Level 2 and Level 3 evacuation notices for residents in the affected area. Individuals near the fire are urged to stay updated on evacuation orders and follow guidance from the sheriff’s office.

Southern Oregon remains under a Red Flag Warning through Sunday evening, indicating critical fire weather conditions. Chief Deputy Travis Medema highlighted the role of weather in the fire’s rapid expansion and emphasized the ongoing risks. “The weather drove this fire, and Oregon will continue to face challenging weather conditions over the next three weeks. Fire season isn’t over yet, and I encourage everyone to stay vigilant,” Medema stated. He also commended the response efforts of incident management teams and task forces, noting their relentless commitment throughout the fire season.

In response to the Copperfield Fire, the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s (OSFM) Red Incident Management Team, along with eight task forces, have been mobilized. Two additional task forces from Lane County and Central Oregon were dispatched earlier on Saturday evening under Immediate Response protocols. The OSFM Red Incident Management Team is scheduled to receive a briefing on Monday at 10 a.m., after which they will operate in unified command with the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Incident Management Team 3.

The latest information and evacuation notices can be found HERE.