Firefighters Burn Earth to Redirect Bootleg Fire

Firefighters worked to contain the Bootleg Fire in Oregon, as officials reported on July 25 that it had spread to over 408,000 acres.

This footage, released by authorities on July 25, shows crews carrying out a “firing operation” to redirect the blaze on the night of July 24, working into the morning.

The aim of the operation was to intentionally burn earth to “pick up the fire’s edge and bring it to a road where firefighters could defend this road more easily,” in an attempt to protect “private timber land”.

Officials on July 25 said the Bootleg Fire was at 46 per cent containment, and had reached 408,930 acres.

A total of over 2,200 personnel were involved in the efforts to contain the blaze. Credit: Bootleg Fire via Storyful