350 Personnel now battle the 2,230 acre Crane Fire [UPDATED]

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A bulldozer forks a fire line on the north end of the Crane Fire. (Image: USFS / Inciweb)

A bulldozer forks a fire line on the north end of the Crane Fire. (Image: USFS / Inciweb)

UPDATED: 11:01 PM, 8/20/2020
Updated to include information on the virtual community meeting and fire map

LAKEVIEW, Ore. - The Crane Fire has grown to 2,330 acres 10 miles southeast of Lakeview and is at just 10% containment. 350 Personnel are now actively working the wildfire that started August 16. The fire burns in timber and brush and has activity included moderate flanking with single tree torching.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Crane Fire Public Informaion Map as of 8/19/20. Click image for larger picture, click here for high resolution pdf.

Smoke has been thick at times due to broken high-level clouds. Mid-level smoke has put a cap on the atmosphere which did not allow upper-level strong winds to mix to the surface.

Northwest IMT 12 is coordinating with the Lake County Chamber of Commerce and Fremont-Winema National Forest to hold a pair of Virtual Information Meeting on the Crane Fire on Friday, August 21, 2020. The first meeting will be held over Facebook Live in English starting at 5:15 p.m. and then a second meeting in Spanish starting at 6 p.m.  The meetings will have the same key information shared, although questions may vary.

At 5:15 p.m., the Facebook Live event can be found at www.facebook.com/allaboutlakecounty.  At 6 p.m., the Facebook Live event in Spanish can be found at www.facebook.com/camaradecomerciolake

After the meeting, the video will be posted on both Lake County Chamber of Commerce sites, as well as on the Fremont-Winema National Forest page at www.facebook.com/R6FWNF and the SCOFMP page at www.facebook.com/SCOFMPFIREINFO for those who would like to view the meeting later.

Part of the fire area and the lands south of the fire area are designated roadless areas. There are many natural resources at risk near the fire including wetlands and scab-lands. The area sees heavy recreation use including camping, hiking and is well known for hunting opportunities.

Yesterday’s Operations
Fire crews began burnout operations last night in the southwestern portion of the fire after winds were weaker than forecast. Firefighters also responded to multiple spot fires outside of fire lines on the western edge of the fire yesterday.

Fire crews continued work to remove vegetation along firelines to prepare for burnout operations. Helicopters made water drops to cool hot spots on the fire.

Today’s Operations
Firefighters will hold and secure the spot fires located last night and will continue constructing control lines and burning operations today. These burnouts will remove fuels in advance of the fire with a lower intensity burn.

IMT 12 also has initial attack responsibilities for new fire starts within the overall fire area and is coordinating with the rural fire protection district and ranchers around the fire perimeter to perform structural assessments on homes and ranch buildings.

Smoke from fires in California as well as the Crane Fire will continue to impact Lakeview and New Pine Creek and will be visible throughout the area.

Planned Incident Activity
12 hours: Backing and flanking with low fire behavior along the perimeter in areas of heavy surface fuels that are unlined. There may also be a slight chance of isolated torching.

24 hours: Backing and flanking with isolated torching and the potential for short range spotting.

48 hours: Low to moderate fire behavior with the potential for isolated torching.

72 hours: Low to moderate fire behavior with the potential for isolated torching.

Today’s weather will be sunny and dry, with a high temperature of 84 degrees in the valleys and winds 12-16 mph gusting to 25 mph on the ridges.

Weather Concerns
Today was a transition day as the deep upper low in the Pacific and the Four Corners high were both expected to weaken and sag south. This would have resulted in cooler temperatures, gusty winds, and relative humidity to drop to the mid-teens to mid-20s. This was expected to begin around 1:00 PM but was delayed until after 4:00 PM. The temperature reached 79, min relative humidity 18%, and winds were southwest 14 mph with gusts to 25 mph. Conditions are expected to become benign through the weekend with temperatures within 1-3 degrees of what we saw on August 19.

Winds are expected to be less than today, but gusts 20 to 25 mph will be likely. The upper-level trough will continue to weaken resulting in a dry southwest to westerly flow off the Pacific.

Moisture from Tropical Storm Genevieve may push enough tropical moisture into the region to result in thunderstorms Monday and Tuesday but right now chances remain low.

Evacuations and Closures
The Fremont-Winema National Forest issued emergency fire closure order 06-02-02-20-01 for the area between Hwy 140 and the Oregon/California Stateline; and from the Forest Boundary on the west to Forest Roads 3610, 3910, 3910-019 to the Forest Boundary and Road 3915 to the Stateline. This emergency order closes the Twin Springs, Willow Creek, and Deep Creek Campgrounds; Crane Mountain and Rogger Meadow Trailheads; the Crane Mountain Trail and the Oregon Timber Trail from the Stateline north to the Camas Sno-Park.

Safety Message
Hwy 140 remains open. Please be aware of increased fire traffic in the fire area, as well as surrounding communities. Slow down and use caution around fire equipment.

The team is working in concert with Lake Health District to protect the community from the threat of COVID-19

Crane Fire Details

Cause:
Under Investigation

Size:
2,330 acres

Containment:
10%

Location:
10 Miles southeast of Lakeview Oregon.

Resources:
289 Personnel
11 Hand Crews
13 Engines
3 Dozers
3 Tenders
4 Helicopters
1 Aircraft

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