Crane Fire reaches 45% containment

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A team of firefighters watch the #CraneFire for hot spots. (Image: Inciweb)

A team of firefighters watch the #CraneFire for hot spots. (Image: Inciweb)

LAKEVIEW, Ore. - Fire crews make great progress on the Crane Fire overnight increasing containment to 45% and minimal growth from 2,918 acres to 2,987 acres. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has lifted all evacuation levels in the vicinity of the Crane Fire. The Fremont-Winema National Forest emergency closure is still in effect.

Yesterday firefighters completed control lines around the fire and reinforced existing lines for extra security for today’s forecasted winds and Red Flag conditions.

Today crews will continue mop-up work on the western, eastern, and northern edges of the fire.

A virtual community meeting will be held via Facebook Live on August 24 at 12:00 PM for English and 12:45 PM for Spanish. The meeting will be conducted by Northwest Incident Management Team 12 in partnership with the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, the Fremont-Winema National Forest and the South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership.

At noon, the Facebook Live event can be found at www.facebook.com/allaboutlakecounty.  At 12:45 p.m., the Facebook Live event in Spanish can be found at www.facebook.com/camaradecomerciolake.

93.5 KORV will also broadcast the meeting live on the radio.

Crane Fire PIO Map for 8/24/2020 (Click for Larger)

Detailed Report

Yesterday’s Operations
Firefighters completed control lines around the fire and increased the depth of existing lines to ensure they were secured in anticipation of forecasted winds and Red Flag conditions.

Crews continued mop-up work on the western, eastern, and northern edges of the fire. An initial attack group of firefighters and engines readied for any new fire starts.

Helicopters made bucket drops to control a spot that flared up on the southeast edge of the fire in the evening, helping secure the control line.

Today’s Operations
Firefighters will patrol, secure and hold the southeast perimeter. Mop-up will continue on the north, west and east sides of the fire. Crews will continue to prep contingency lines to the southeast. A hand crew will assess the hot spot that flared up on the southeast edge last night and begin mop up. Crews will start repair work.

Additional Notes of Interest

  • Tonight will be the last night for night shift. Tonight's shift will be abbreviated.

  • Crews had a quiet night having no issues in holding the areas burned in Div-Z.

  • Today crews moped up in Div-A, Div-B, and Div-Z. The direct control line in Div-D was also completed.

  • Mechanical road prepping continued in Div-Z in order to be ready to be used as contingency lines.

  • A drone was used to complete an IR mission in Div-D.

  • 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.

  • The one reported illness was dehydration.

Projected Incident Activity
12 hours: No movement is expected due to control lines being in place and the burning operations conducted this week reduced the amount of available fuels near the perimeter. Also expect continued consumption of timber litter interior to perimeter.

24 hours: Do not expect fire spread unless predicted thunderstorms cause the fire to escape. If that occurs, rate of spread and direction will depend on conditions created by the storm.

48 hours: Do not expect fire spread.

72 hours: Do not expect fire spread.

Weather Concerns
The Red Flag Warning for low relative humidity and gusty winds easily verified today. The leading edge of moisture from tropical storm Genevieve is beginning to push into the region this afternoon. Temperatures were from the mid 80s to 90. Relative humidity dropped to 8-12 percent. Wind gusts to 12-20 to 25 mph were common.

More active weather is on hand tomorrow as deeper moisture from the remains of tropical storm Genevieve moves into the region tonight. Several weather disturbances will move through the region from Monday through Wednesday and will have enough energy to support isolated thunderstorms.

The first chance will be Monday morning, then each afternoon through Wednesday. Confidence for convection on Wednesday is not great as the flow turns westerly and the last of the waves maybe just a little too far north. Otherwise temperatures will be from the mid 70s to lower 80s and relative humidity will be in the mid to upper 20s.

A dry weather disturbance will move through the region on Sunday. This will lower relative humidity into the mid-teens and also increase wind speeds on area ridges. This combination will be enough to support a Red Flag warning. Otherwise temperatures will be up a few degrees.

Evacuations and Closures
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office lifted all evacuation levels in the Crane Fire area last night due to the great work done by firefighters and operations.

Fremont-Winema National Forest emergency fire closure order 06-02-02-20-01 remains in effect 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. The team is working with Lake Health District to protect the community from the threat of COVID-19.

Crane Fire Details

Cause
Lightning

Size
2,987 Acres

Containment
45%

Location
10 Miles southeast of Lakeview Oregon.

Resources
532 Personnel
13 Hand Crews
17 Engines
5 Dozers
6 Tenders
5 Helicopters
1 Aircraft

Date of Origin
August 16, 2020

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