Firefighters make headway on the Crane Fire

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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. - Burning in the Lakeview Ranger District of the Fremont-Winema National Forest the Crane Fire has grown to 2,918 acres and the 529 member fire team has secured a 25% containment around the fire. Currently, there are no structures threatened with the fire including the town of Lakeview.

Smoke from California wildfires continues to impact fire operations.

Moderate amounts of tree torching, fire creeping, and flanking have been reported. Unburned islands of fuels within the fires’ outer reaches are beginning to burn including grassy areas that previously would not burn. Crews have found 2 hot spots located outside the established fire line.

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 8/23/2020 (Click for Larger)

Yesterday’s Operations
Fire crews increased the depth of control lines during mop-up operations on the western side of the fire and burned islands of remaining fuels on the eastern side of the fire.

Firefighters overlooking a burnout near Red Peak on the #CraneFire. (Image: Inciweb)

Firefighters used hand tools to construct a control line along Crane Creek and built indirect control lines on the rugged southeastern flank of the fire. Helicopters conducted bucket drops to cool burning concentrations of fuels near control lines.

Today’s Operations
Firefighters are cautiously optimistic that they can complete control lines around most of the fire today. These control lines require additional work to increase depth to ensure existing lines are secured.

Fire crews continue mop-up work on the western and northern portions of the fire. Work is ongoing to complete control lines in the challenging terrain of the largely roadless southeastern portion of the fire. Firefighters have been preparing control lines for the forecast winds and Red Flag Warning conditions expected over the next two days.

There is an initial attack group of firefighters and engines ready for any new fire starts, and these resources will be positioned to respond if the need arises.

Additional Notes of Interest

A firefighter monitors a burnout operation on the Crane Fire (Image: Inciweb)

Projected Incident Activity
12 hours: Fire spread is expected to be minimal overnight due to an inversion setting up. Smoldering and creeping is expected.

24 hours: The fire will actively continue to clean up unburned islands and areas where fuels were not completely consumed (dirty burn). Single tree and group spotting is possible, mostly in Div-Z.

48 hours: Again the fire will actively continue to clean up unburned islands and areas where fuels were not completely consumed (dirty burn). Single tree and group spotting is possible, mostly in Div-Z.

72 hours: Clean up of unburned islands will continue. The rate and intensity will depend on the amount of rain and wind received over the fire area.

Weather Concerns
Southwest flow remained over the area again today, but not as much smoke today. Satellite imagery indicates that the smoke from the California fires will be on the increase again this evening. Temperatures warmed up 4-5 degrees over Friday with temperatures in the low 80s. Relative humidity fell to right around 20 percent which was very similar to Friday. Ridgetop winds were southwest with gusts 20 to 25 mph.

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. Moisture from remnants of tropical storm Genevieve will move into the area Sunday night and will result in a chance of nocturnal thunderstorms early Monday morning and again Monday night.

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

Crane Fire Details

Cause
Lightning

Size
2,918 Acres

Containment
25%

Location
10 Miles southeast of Lakeview Oregon.

Resources
529 Personnel
14 Hand Crews
17 Engines
6 Dozers
7 Tenders
5 Helicopters
1 Aircraft

Date of Origin
August 16, 2020

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