2,000-acre Golden Fire in southern Oregon destroys 43 homes

PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) A 2,056-acre wildfire burning northeast of Klamath Falls has destroyed 43 homes and 43 outbuildings, the Oregon state fire marshal said Monday. The Golden Fire burning north of the town of Bonanza started Saturday, and dry, hot and windy weather swept the flames through grass, brush and timber, destroying most of

A 2,056-acre wildfire burning northeast of Klamath Falls has destroyed 43 homes and 43 outbuildings, the Oregon state fire marshal said Monday.

The Golden Fire burning north of the town of Bonanza started Saturday, and dry, hot and windy weather swept the flames through grass, brush and timber, destroying most of the structures that first day, the fire marshal said.

Nearly 450 fire personnel are battling the blaze, which was 9% contained as of Monday. There were 317 homes in all evacuation levels.

The fire has destroyed several structures in the Bly Mountain area, Sherry Booth, who lost her home in the fire, said Monday.

She said the fire spread quickly.

Booth said she received a call alerting her the fire was headed toward her home. Then about 10 minutes later, she received another call saying the fire had jumped the road.

“They were closing everything off, but we know a back way in, so we did get to the house. We had to go try to save our animals and the cops were at the house and they were just telling us to grab our animals -- go, go, go," she said.

By the time Booth got home, her house was engulfed in flames.

“I did have insurance. I’m at the insurance place now. We’re going to see what we can do, what they have to say," she said.

With the hot and dry weather, and the possibility of the wind shifting in the coming days, firefighters are concerned containment lines could be tested.

Gov. Tina Kotek invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act to get more resources to the fire.

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