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According to South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership (SCOFMP) Blog (https://scofmp.blogspot.com/) all fire related area closures in the U.S. Forest Service - Fremont-Winema National Forest have been lifted.
Read MoreThis will be the last daily update for the High Cascades Complex East Zone. When available, updated fire and closure information will be shared on Inciweb and the Rogue River-Siskiyou, Fremont-Winema and Crater Lake National Park websites. On Saturday, Sept. 30 at 7:00 a.m. Great Basin Team #4 will transfer command of the North Pelican, Blanket Creek and Spruce Lake Fires back to their local units.
Summary: Fire personnel worked hard this week identifying and repairing damage resulting from months of fire suppression activities. Hand crews moved down the line meticulously covering areas bare of vegetation, removing debris from blocked culverts and repairing roads damaged by heavy equipment.
Read MoreLimited phone calls and lack of fire activity eliminated the need for an additional fire information line at Crater Lake National Park. As of 0600 today, CLNP fire information can be obtained by calling the main line at 541.238.7164. Fire information boards will be updated every few days as needed. The incident meteorologist expects weather to reach the high 70’s on Thursday, but temperatures will decrease dramatically as a wet cold front moves in this weekend. There is some potential for aggressive creeping on Thursday, but that will be put to rest as cooler temperatures impede the fire’s ability to grow.
Read More*** VIDEO - Chipping Efforts on the High Cascades Complex East Zone - AUDIO CAUTION - No audio with the exception of a loud chainsaw. (Inciweb) ***
Summary: Crews continued chipping away on repair efforts; increasing repair completion to 43 percent. Aerial operations assisted firefighters by shuttling crews and supplies into difficult to reach areas. While a warm and dry weather trend continued, high clouds prevented major temperature increases. Lingering snow remained a hurdle to repair operations but continued to slow remaining fire activity. Fire perimeters have little potential for movement. Grading operations are progressing smoothly as heavy equipment operator continue to overhaul roads impacted by operations.
North Pelican (27% repair complete): Crews cleaned the trailhead at the end of Cold Springs Road leading into the wilderness. Chipping is expected to continue on the North Pelican for the next several days to remove excess slash along the roads. In addition to hand work, three excavators will repair access roads surrounding the fire.
Blanket Creek Fire (45% repair complete): Firefighters finished much of the rehab work on the southeastern edge of the fire perimeter. Heavy equipment operators will continue scouting the dozer lines closer to Mazama Village to develop a timeline for repairs. The protective material surrounding the Honeymoon Cabin is expected to be removed today.
Spruce Lake Fire (62% repair complete): Air operations provided major assistance to crews on the Spruce Lake Fire by transporting 4,350 pounds of cargo to the Hotshot Crew repairing handline. A crew working in the backcountry is expected to reach the West Rim Road tomorrow.
Closures: Fire closures remain on public lands within some hunting units. Check trail, road, and area closures on InciWeb, park and forest websites. West Rim Drive in Crater Lake National Park remains closed for scheduled maintenance and repaving through Friday at 4 p.m.
Weather: The warming and drying trend should continue through Thursday when highs will reach the mid-70s and daytime relative humidity will drop to 30% or less. Long-range forecasts suggest a renewed wetter pattern by early next week.
Traffic: Expect possible delays on Highway 230 between Union Creek and the junction with Highway 138 due to road construction. In Crater Lake National Park, heavy construction traffic may bring delays near North Junction.
Southern Oregon Fire Map (Inciweb)
*** ATTN Hunters - Check fire restrictions before heading out, some units still have restrictions. East Zone containment at 40% ***
Fire officials report the High Cascades Complex East Zone at 40% contained. Improving weather conditions and lack of fire growth is allowing firefighters to focus their efforts on suppression repair. Excavators and other heavy equipment will be shifted between fires to reflect operational needs over the next several days. Please be cognizant of heavy equipment traveling the roads in fire areas. As of Monday morning, approximately 32% of the total suppression repair work is complete.
Excavators assisted crews on the North Pelican Fire (repair work 17% complete) repair bulldozer line. Handcrews completed culvert repairs on NF Road 350 and grading occurred on NF Road 3519. On the Blanket Creek Fire (repair work is 21% complete), chipping continued on the east flank of the burned area. Crews scouted and began repairing handline in backcountry areas of Crater Lake National Park. Crews on the Spruce Lake Fire (repair work is 52% complete) completed rehab from the forest-park boundary to the Pacific Crest Trail. Crews are making good progress at Spruce Lake, but are encountering snow as they move into higher elevations in the wilderness and national park.
Closures: Weather conditions and anticipated fire behavior allowed the Fremont-Winema National Forest to modify its fire closure areas on both the Blanket Creek and North Pelican Fires. These alterations may impact backcountry recreationalists, hunters, and OHV users. Know before you go! Check trail, road, and area closures and conditions on InciWeb, park and forest websites. West Rim Drive in Crater Lake National Park remains closed for scheduled maintenance and repaving through Friday afternoon at 4 pm.
Hunting: The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife does not close hunting seasons due to fire danger. However, fire closures still remain on public lands within some hunting units. Hunters are urged to check closures before heading out.
Weather: A weak disturbance is expected to move through the region on Monday. High level clouds may reduce temperatures a few degrees, but a warming and drying trend is expected through Thursday.
The Rim Visitor Center, Annie Creek Restaurant and Gift Shop, and the Mazama Campground cabins are closed for the season. Expect possible delays on Highway 230 between Union Creek and the junction with Highway 138 due to road construction.
Press release from High Cascades Complex PIO (Inciweb)
Suppression repair for the High Cascades Complex East Zone picked up substantially with the warmer and drier weather. Firefighters removed over 20,000 feet of hose within the Blanket Creek and North Pelican Fires. Removal of additional water pumps and hoses will continue over the next few days.
On September 22, the East Zone flew an infrared mapping of the complex, which showed very few pockets of heat. The majority of heat signatures were scattered well within the interior of the three fires. Current weather forecast and an analysis completed by the incident’s fire behavior analyst does not suggest any significant fire spread in the East Zone in the coming week.
The management team continues to assess the situation and employ the right tools to complete needed suppression repair work. Equipment and crews best suited for the job will continue to work on repair. Handcrews will be used to repair handline and clean blocked culverts impacted by the fires, mitigating future erosion and water issues.
Improved weather conditions allowed for increased air operations. Helicopters logged a combined 5.4 hours of flight time and ferried 58 passengers and 4,200 pounds of cargo, largely to the Spruce Lake Fire.
A community briefing in Rocky Point was attended by 20 people and focused largely on area closures and firewood availability as a result of the suppression operation.
Radio Communication Site at Watchman Peak
Communication personnel fix the communication tower at Watchman Peak Lookout after it blew down due to 40-50 mph gusts of winds (Inciweb)
Similar repair work reported yesterday will continue on the North Pelican, Blanket Creek and Spruce Lake Fires. Acreage and containment remains unchanged. North Pelican (3,589 acres, 73% contained), Blanket Creek (33,322 acres, 23% contained) and Spruce Lake (15,826 acres and 22% contained).
Closures: Although modified, some area and road closures remain in place. South of the Middle Fork of the Rogue River and the South Fork 3703 trail closures have been lifted. Current closure information is available online at:https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5503. West Rim Drive in Crater Lake National Park remained closed for plowing and inspection after last week’s snowy weather.
The Rim Visitor Center will close for the season today. The Mazama Cabins, Campground and Annie Creek Restaurant and Gift Shop will close at noon on Monday Sept. 25. Motorists and visitors to the area need to be aware of delays on Highway 230 between Union Creek and the junction with Highway 138 due to road construction.
Video - Aerial video of the High Cascades Complex East. (NO AUDIO)
Aerial Video taken 09.22.2017 for the High Cascades Complex East Zone (Inciweb)
Photo by Adam Alltergot - Cold Morning on the High Cascades Complex East Zone
*** The Level 1 Evacuation Notification for Mazama Village is lifted.***
Crews were back on the line Thursday, Sept. 21, evaluating and implementing rehab plans for the Spruce Lake, Blanket Creek and North Pelican Fires. Several excavators arrived at the Incident Command Post on Thursday and will begin work today repairing dozer lines as soil conditions allow. Operational repair pace will continue to increase as weather improves. No fire spread is expected for the next several days but some creeping and smoldering in the sheltered forest stands may occur at lower elevations where heat remained during the storm cycle.
Community Briefing: A community briefing to discuss current fire operations and rehab plans will be held Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. at the Rocky Point Fire Hall (25600 Rocky Point Road, Klamath Falls, Oregon).
North Pelican (3,589 acres, 73% contained) Crews bladed (smoothed) portions of Cold Springs Road and evaluated repair plans for the southwest edge near the wilderness boundary. They will continue cleaning hand and dozer lines for today’s operations. A deck of logs slid off a logging truck at the Junction of Cold Springs Rd and Hwy 140. The firewood is available for the public beginning Saturday with a permit obtained from the Ranger District.
Blanket Creek (33,322 acres, 23% contained) Crews started to pull hose on the western perimeter of Blanket Creek and assess hand and dozer lines to determine what type of equipment is required to complete repair work. Crews working the eastern perimeter chipped approximately 2.5 miles of NF road 3282, while crews on the southeast perimeter pulled 3.8 miles of hose.
Spruce Lake (15,826 acres and 22% contained) Two hand crews spent the day removing snags and other vegetation from the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) to access and rehab the southern handline from the Forest Service boundary to Copeland Creek.
Based on current weather and fire behavior, the National Park Service and High Cascades Complex (East) Fire Incident Management team determined the fire no longer poses a threat to Mazama Village.
The Level 1 Evacuation Notification for Mazama Village is lifted.
High Cascades Complex East Zone Map Last Update
Closures: Forest Managers are reevaluating area closures. For more information visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5503. The West Rim Drive is closed until Friday at 4:00 p.m. due to construction. All concession facilities and services remain open for visitors to the Park. Motorists and visitors to the area also need to be aware of delays on Highway 230 between Union Creek and the junction with Highway 138 due to road construction.
*** Cooler temps and rain allow crews to work on rehabilitation and suppression. ***
Bessie Creek Cabin (Inciweb)
Summary: Keeping crews dry in light of weather conditions was the priority for the High Cascades Complex East Zone yesterday. Rain is expected to decrease dramatically over the next few days, allowing operations to re-engage the fire. Despite the weather, crews were able to complete one mile of road grading on the North Pelican Fire and remove 5,000 feet of hose and associated water pumps on the Blanket Fire. With the amount of rain and snow on the landscape, operational tactics will begin to focus on suppression rehabilitation efforts. Suppression rehab involves repairing constructed fire line, areas cleared of vegetation to control the fire, to minimize erosion and return the landscape to a more natural looking condition. Often, as with this fire, suppression repair work is done by firefighters even before the fire is contained. Rehab work also includes fixing fences, roads and drainage structures damaged during fire operations.
Fire crews work closely with resource advisors from the forest and park service to protect cultural resources, threatened, endangered and sensitive species habitat, high resource areas, campgrounds and infrastructure during this process. Methods for rehab work ranges from scattering excess brush and vegetation along the dirt lines to removing soil berms created during dozer operations. The ultimate goal is to mitigate impacts caused during fire operations.
Fire acreage remains steady.
North Pelican: 3,589 acres, 73% contained
Blanket Creek: 33,322 acres, 23% contained
Spruce Lake: 15,826 acres and 22% contained
Weather: Showers will diminish through Thursday with a drying and warming trend beginning Friday.
Closures: Forest Managers are reevaluating area closures, but until that decision is made, a number of area road and trail closures are in place. For specific closure information, visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5503. Roads in the National Park may be closed due to weather, visitors are urged to check conditions before heading out. The West Rim Drive is closed until Friday at 4:00 p.m. due to construction. All concession facilities and services remain open for visitors to the Park. Motorists and visitors to the area also need to be aware of delays on Highway 230 between Union Creek and the junction with Highway 138 due to road construction.
Press release from the High Cascades Complex
East Zone Update
*** Firefighers continue to work in rain and snow. ***
All three fires received wetting rains Monday night. Although some heat remains in dead and down surface fuels and litter, rains, cooler temperatures and high humidity greatly assisted firefighting efforts. As fire progression slows, crews will develop plans to rehabilitate hand and dozer lines used in suppression operations. The Incident Command Post was busy today constructing large tents with heaters to provide returning crews a warm place to dry out after a long day on the fire line. Inclement weather impeded aerial observations so no new acreage is available.
Spruce Lake Fire: (15,826 acres and 22% contained) Little fire growth is expected but active monitoring will continue.
Blanket Creek Fire: (33,322 acres and 28% contained) Crews conducted a minor backfire operation to button up a hot spot near constructed line along the southwest edge. Crews continue to prep between forest road 800 and 600, removing hazard trees to prepare for possible dozer work. Structure protection continued at Mazama Village.
North Pelican Fire: (3,589 acres and 73% contained) Heavy equipment and crews continued improving contingency lines on the north and southwest edges. Crews started to evaluate possible suppression repair opportunities. Weather permitting, crews will begin some suppression repair today along the southern boundary.
Weather: A robust rain event is expected the next few days. Total rainfall will range from one to almost two inches. Snow of up to eight inches is anticipated at elevations above 6000 feet. A warming and drying trend begins Thursday as high pressure builds over the Pacific Northwest.
Closures: A number of area road and trail closures are in place within Crater Lake National Park, Rogue River-Siskiyou, Umpqua, and Fremont-Winema National Forests. For specific closure information, visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5503. The North Entrance Road to Crater Lake National Park is open. The West Rim Drive is closed until Friday at 4:00 p.m. due to construction. All concession facilities and services remain open for visitors to the Park. Motorists and visitors to the area also need to be aware of delays on Highway 230 between Union Creek and the junction with Highway 138 due to road construction.
A Level 1 Evacuation Notification remains in effect for Mazama Village in Crater Lake National Park. Level 1 is the first step in the “Be Ready, Be Set, Go!” system. For more information about evacuation levels and procedures, go to http://tinyurl.com/BeReady-BeSet-Go.
Incident Summary Quick Facts
Fire Locations: Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest; Fremont-Winema National Forest-Klamath Ranger District; Crater Lake National Park;
Approximate Acreage: 52,737 acres (East Zone Only)
Containment: 39% (East Zone Only)
Start Date:
North Pelican – 08.10.2017
Spruce Lake – 07.29.2017
Blanket Creek – 07.26.2017
Cause: Lightning
Incident Commander: Tim Roide, Great Basin Incident Management Team #4
Total Personnel: 339
*** A follow up to a story we brought you an hour ago (http://bit.ly/2fwUd3L). Even with rains reducing fire restrictions, fire season is still in full effect. ***
The rain and cooler weather are a welcome change for #ORFireSeason2017, offering some help to firefighters across the #PNW.
However, as you can see from the updated map below, it will take more than a few days of rain to end this challenging season.
Please check and follow your local fire restrictions before burning those debris piles or campfires. Support our firefighters by preventing future wildfires.
https://gisapps.odf.oregon.gov/firerestrictions/PFR.html
Great Basin Incident Management Team 4 took control of the High Cascade Complex East Zone, Sunday, September 17 at 6:00 p.m. The East Zone includes the Spruce Lake, Blanket Creek, and North Pelican fires. Scattered heat continued to produce smoke, but higher relative humidity limited fire progression Sunday. Crews monitored fire activity and improved contingency line. Preparation of hand and dozer line work will continue today, weather permitting.
Spruce Lake Fire: (15,826 acres and 22% contained) Smoke cleared yesterday allowing the fire to be viewed from the air. Minimal change in fire perimeter was observed. Little growth is expected today with cooler and wetter weather moving in.
Blanket Creek Fire: (33,322 acres and 28% contained) Growth occurred on the western perimeter at the edge of the Sky Lakes Wilderness near Bessie Cabin. The cabin was wrapped for protection. Containment lines on the west are being evaluated and strengthened. Crews continue to hold and improve containment lines to the east and southeast.
North Pelican Fire: (3,589 acres and 73% contained) Fire behavior yesterday was quiet with not much fire movement. Heavy equipment and crews continue improving contingency lines on the north and southwest edges.
Weather: A westerly cold front will bring rain today and into the week, with a corresponding increase in relative humidity, helping to minimize fire behavior. Temperatures will trend downward starting today with highs in the mid-50s, decreasing over the next few days. Snow is anticipated over 6,000 feet.
Closures: A number of area road and trail closures are in place within Crater Lake National Park, Rogue River-Siskiyou, Umpqua, and Fremont-Winema National Forests. For specific closure information, visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5503. The North Entrance Road to Crater Lake National Park is open. The West Rim Drive is closed until Friday at 4:00 p.m. due to construction. All concession facilities and services remain open for visitors to the Park. Motorists and visitors to the area also need to be aware of delays on Highway 230 between Union Creek and the junction with Highway 138 due to road construction.
A Level 1 Evacuation Notification remains in effect for Mazama Village in Crater Lake National Park. Level 1 is the first step in the “Be Ready, Be Set, Go!” system. For more information about evacuation levels and procedures, go to http://tinyurl.com/BeReady-BeSet-Go
Image: Girl Scout Troop #10279 from Eagle Point made a visit to the High Cascades Complex West fire camp outside of Prospect today. These Brownies saved up their own money to buy cookies for the fire fighters. Maybe one of these gals is a future wildland Fire fighters (inciweb)
**** Cooler weather helping firefighting efforts. Southwest IMT 3 to transition to Great Basin IMT 4 Today. ****
The North Entrance Road to Crater Lake National Park is open and will remain open. West Rim Drive will be open until 9:00 pm tonight. All concession facilities and services remain open for visitors to the Park. Motorists and visitors to the area also need to be aware of delays on Highway 230 between Union Creek and the junction with Highway 138 due to road construction.
The Southwest Area Incident Management Team #3 will transition with the Great Basin Incident Management Team #4 today. The High Cascades Complex East Zone includes the Spruce Lake, Blanket Creek, and North Pelican fires.
A dry cold front has moved into the area bringing winds out of the west, southwest that will have gusts to about 25 miles per hour by this afternoon.
Spruce Lake Fire (15,826 acres and 22% contained) Aerial observations were done yesterday. No movement was detected and no growth is expected with the cooler and wetter weather moving into the fire area.
Blanket Creek Fire (33,322 acres and 21% contained) Crews continue to hold and strengthen containment lines to the north and east. There was fire activity along the southwest side as it moved through the old Middle Fork burn.
North Pelican (3,589 acres and 73% contained) Heavy equipment and crews continued construction of contingency lines. Fire behavior today was quiet with not much movement.
A Level 1 Evacuation Notification remains in effect for Mazama Village in Crater Lake National Park. Level 1 is the first step in the “Be Ready, Be Set, Go!” system. For more information about evacuation levels and procedures, go to
http://tinyurl.com/BeReady-BeSet-Go.
Smoke Outlook: A full smoke forecast can be viewed at: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5503. To see visibility at
Crater Lake National Park, check out the webcams at https://www.nps.gov/crla/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm.
Closure Information: As a result of the fires in the High Cascades Complex, a number of area road and trail closures are in place within Crater Lake National Park, Rogue River-Siskiyou, Umpqua, and Fremont-Winema National Forests. More road and trail closures may go into effect as the fires progress. For specific closure information, visit https://
inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5503.
Location: High Cascades Ranger District, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, Klamath Ranger District, Fremont-Winema National Forest, Crater Lake National Park
Start Date:
North Pelican August 10, 2017,
Spruce Lake July 29, 2017,
Blanket Creek July 26, 2017
Cause: Lightning
Size: 52,737 Acres
Percent Contained: 16% (% encompasses total of both East and West zone of the complex
excluding Spruce Lake fire from the Complex)
Vegetation: timber, brush, heavy logging slash
Resources Assigned: 326
Incident Commander: Steve Millert/Dave Gesser with the Southwest Area Type 2 Incident Management Team 3
The North Entrance Road to Crater Lake National Park is open and will remain open. West Rim Drive will be open until 9:00 pm Sunday, September 17.
All concession facilities and services remain open for visitors to the Park. There will be an increase in traffic due to the Ride The Rim event today. Visit the Ride The Rim website at http://ridetherim2017.com/ for more information. Motorists and visitors to the area also need to be aware of delays on Hwy 230 between Union Creek and the junction with Highway 138 due to road construction.
Summary: The High Cascades Complex East Zone includes the Spruce Lake, Blanket Creek, and North Pelican fires. A dry cold front is moving into the area today with cooler conditions and gusty winds up to 15 miles per hour.
Spruce Lake Fire (15,789 acres and 27% contained) The fire showed minimal fire behavior as crews continue to strengthen containment lines. Chipping operation was completed yesterday and crews will move to the Blanket Creek Fire to cut down on the traffic in the area of the Ride the Rim event taking place at Crater Lake National Park.
Blanket Creek Fire (31,632 acres and 20% contained) Crews continue to hold and strengthen containment lines to the north and east. Crews from the Spruce Lake Fire will help with structure protection assessment of the values at risk in Mazama Village in Crater Lake National Park. The northwest side of the fire is nearing containment. There was some backing and short flame lengths observed yesterday as the fire moved further into the old Middle Fork burn.
North Pelican (3,589 acres and 25% contained) Crews continue to work to the north building containment lines on the fire’s perimeter pushing the fire into the wilderness. Due to inaccessible terrain, crews are attacking the fire on the south indirectly.
A Level 1 Evacuation Notification remains in effect for Mazama Village in Crater Lake National Park. Level 1 is the first step in the “Be Ready, Be Set, Go!” system. For more information about evacuation levels and procedures, go to http://tinyurl.com/BeReady-BeSet-Go.
Smoke Outlook: A full smoke forecast can be viewed at: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5503. To see visibility at Crater Lake National Park, check out the webcams at https://www.nps.gov/crla/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm.
Location: High Cascades Ranger District, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, Klamath Ranger District,
Fremont-Winema National Forest, Crater Lake National Park
Start Date:
North Pelican August 10, 2017,
Spruce Lake July 29, 2017,
Blanket Creek July 26, 2017
Cause: Lightning
Size: 51,010 Acres
Percent Contained: 16% (% encompasses total of both East and West zone of the complex excluding Spruce Lake fire from the Complex)
Vegetation: timber, brush, heavy logging slash
Resources Assigned: 845 personnel (Personnel for the entire complex)
Incident Commander: Steve Millert/Dave Gesser with the Southwest Area Type 2 Incident Management Team 3
Closure Information: As a result of the fires in the High Cascades Complex, a number of area road and trail closures are in place within Crater Lake National Park, Rogue River-Siskiyou, Umpqua, and Fremont-Winema National Forests. More road and trail closures may go into effect as the fires progress. For specific closure information, visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5503.
Video - Southwest Area IMT3 YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMs-ml97KhuXYi-0Y_a-6Lg)
The High Cascades Complex East Zone includes the Spruce Lake, Blanket Creek, and North Pelican fires. A dry cold front is moving into the area today with cooler conditions and gusty winds up to 15 miles per hour. The cooler temperatures and abundant sun will remain through the weekend with low temperatures down to freezing. Smoke plumes may be visible due to lower relative humidity but expected fire growth will be minimal.
🔥 Spruce Lake Fire (15,789 acres and 27% contained) The fire showed minimal fire behavior as crews continue to strengthen the fire lines. Chipping operation will be completed today.
🔥 Blanket Creek Fire (31,632 acres and 20% contained) Crews continue to hold and strengthen containment lines to the north and east. Structure protection continues as we assess the values at risk in Mazama Village in Crater Lake National Park. The northwest side of the fire is nearing containment. Crews will be looking to perform burn out operations with the expected weather conditions on the east end of the fire.
🔥 North Pelican (3,589 acres and 25% contained) Crews continue to work to the north building containment lines on the fires perimeter pushing the fire into the wilderness. Crews are also working with heavy equipment to expand indirect line.
A Level 1 Evacuation Notification remains in effect for Mazama Village in Crater Lake National Park. Level 1 is the first step in the “Be Ready, Be Set, Go!” system. For more information about evacuation levels and procedures, go to http://tinyurl.com/BeReady-BeSet-Go.
Closure Information: As a result of the fires in the High Cascades Complex, a number of area road and trail closures are in place within Crater Lake National Park, Rogue River-Siskiyou, Umpqua, and Fremont-Winema National Forests. More road and trail closures may go into effect as the fires progress. For specific closure information, visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5503.
The North Entrance Road to Crater Lake National Park remains closed. West Rim Drive will reopen on Friday at 4:00 pm. All concession facilities and services remain open for visitors to the Park. Motorists and visitors to the area also need to be aware of delays on Hwy 230 between Union Creek and the junction with Highway 138 due to road construction.
Smoke Outlook: A full smoke forecast can be viewed at: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5503. To see visibility at Crater Lake National Park, check out the webcams at https://www.nps.gov/crla/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm.
Location: High Cascades Ranger District, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, Klamath Ranger District, Fremont-Winema National Forest, Crater Lake National Park
Start Date:
• North Pelican August 10, 2017,
• Spruce Lake July 29, 2017,
• Blanket Creek July 26, 2017
Cause: Lightning
Size: 51,010 Acres
Percent Contained: 16% (% encompasses total of both East and West zone of the complex excluding Spruce Lake fire from the Complex)
Vegetation: timber, brush, heavy logging slash
Resources Assigned: 845 personnel (Personnel for the entire complex)
Incident Commander: Steve Millert/Dave Gesser with the Southwest Area Type 2 Incident Management Team 3
U.S. Forest Service - Fremont-Winema National Forest
U.S. Forest Service- Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
U.S. Forest Service - Umpqua National Forest
Crater Lake National Park
South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership - SCOFMP
Bureau of Land Management
Rocky Point Fire & Ems
#SpruceLakeFire
#BlanketCreekFire
#NorthPelicanFire
#HighCascadesComplexEast
#HighCascadesComplex
The High Cascades Complex East Zone includes the Spruce Lake, Blanket Creek, and North Pelican fires. A cold front is moving into the area today with cooler conditions and gusty winds. The cooler temperatures will remain through the weekend with low temperatures down to freezing.
Spruce Lake Fire (15,660 acres and 27% contained) The fire showed minimal fire behavior as crews continue to strengthen the fire lines. Chipping operation will be completed today.
Blanket Creek Fire (31,470 acres and 11% contained) Crews continue to hold and strengthen containment lines to the north and east to hold it off the highway corridor. The structure protection team continues to assess the values at risk in Mazama Village in Crater Lake National Park and are in the process of developing a structure protection plan.
North Pelican (3,427 acres and 25% contained) Crews continue to work to the north building containment lines on the fires perimeter pushing the fire into the wilderness.
A Level 1 Evacuation Notification remains in effect for Mazama Village in Crater Lake National Park. Level 1 is the first step in the “Be Ready, Be Set, Go!” system. For more information about evacuation levels and procedures, go to http://tinyurl.com/BeReady-BeSet-Go.
Closure Information: As a result of the fires in the High Cascades Complex, a number of area road and trail closures are in place within Crater Lake National Park, Rogue-River Siskiyou, Umpqua, and Fremont-Winema National Forests. More road and trail closures may go into effect as the fires progress. For specific closure information, visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5503.
The North Entrance Road to Crater Lake National Park remain closed. West Rim Drive will reopen on Friday at 4:00 pm. All concession facilities and services remains open for visitors to the Park. Motorists and visitors to the area also need to be aware of delays on Hwy 230 between Union Creek and the junction with Highway 138 due to road construction.
Smoke Outlook: A full smoke forecast can be viewed at: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5503. To see visibility at Crater Lake National Park, check out the webcams at https://www.nps.gov/crla/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm.
Location: High Cascades Ranger District, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, Klamath Ranger District, Fremont-Winema National Forest, Crater Lake National Park
Start Date:
North Pelican August 10, 2017,
Spruce Lake July 29, 2017,
Blanket Creek July 26, 2017
Cause: Lightning
Size: 50,557 Acres
Percent Contained: 16% (% encompasses total of both East and West zone of the complex excluding Spruce Lake fire from the Complex)
Vegetation: timber, brush, heavy logging slash Resources Assigned: 932 personnel (Personnel for the entire complex)
Incident Commander: Steve Millert/Dave Gesser with the Southwest Area Type 2 Incident Management Team 3
South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership - SCOFMP
Crater Lake National Park
U.S. Forest Service - Fremont-Winema National Forest
East Zone Update
The High Cascades Complex East Zone includes the Spruce Lake, Blanket Creek, and North Pelican fires. Temperatures will be a few degrees cooler and humidity will be a little bit higher than yesterday. Winds will be out of the west/northwest, with a chance of isolated thunderstorms mainly east of the fires.
Active fire Sept. 11 on the Pup Fire near Hershberger Creek. Photo by Josef Porter (Inciweb)
Spruce Lake Fire (14,671 acres and 21% contained) Firefighters are working on a structure plan for the values at risk in Crater Lake National Park. Crews are in the last days of finishing up the chipping operations along the North Entrance Road to prevent the fire spread to the east of the road.
Blanket Creek Fire (39,730 acres and 17% contained) Crews continue to strengthen and monitor the containment lines to the north and east to hold it off the highway corridor.
North Pelican (3,427 acres and 40% contained) Crews worked to contain a 15-acre spot fire and continue to work the north edge of the fire in rugged terrain with low flames lengths and moderate fire behavior. Acreage changed due to more accurate mapping.
A Level 1 Evacuation Notification remains in effect for Mazama Village in Crater Lake National Park. Level 1 is the first step in the “Be Ready, Be Set, Go!” system. For more information about evacuation levels and procedures, go to http://tinyurl.com/BeReady-BeSet-Go.
Smoke Outlook:
A full smoke forecast can be viewed at: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5503. To see visibility at Crater Lake National Park, check out the webcams at https://www.nps.gov/crla/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm.
For further information please visit the following links:
Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/55 03
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/R6RRSNF/https://www.facebook.com/SCOFMPFIREINFO/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RRSNF
Joint Information Center: https://swojic.blogspot.com/
Oregon Smoke Blog: http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/
Location: High Cascades Ranger District, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, Klamath Ranger District, Fremont-Winema National Forest, Crater Lake National Park
Start Date:
North Pelican August 10, 2017,
Spruce Lake July 29, 2017,
Blanket Creek July 26, 2017
Cause: Lightning
Size: 98,379 Acres
Percent Contained: 28% (% encompasses total of both East and West zone of the complex)
Vegetation: timber, brush, heavy logging slash Resources Assigned: 689 personnel (Personnel for the entire complex)
Incident Commander: Steve Millert/Dave Gesser with the Southwest Area Type 2 Incident Management Team 3
Closure Information:
As a result of the fires in the High Cascades Complex, a number of area road and trail closures are in place within Crater Lake National Park, Rogue-River Siskiyou, Umpqua, and Fremont-Winema National Forests. More road and trail closures may go into effect as the fires progress. For specific closure information, visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5503.
The North Entrance Road to Crater Lake National Park remains closed. West Rim Drive will reopen on Friday at 4:00 pm. All concession facilities and services remain open for visitors to the Park. Motorists and visitors to the area also need to be aware of delays on Hwy 230 between Union Creek and the junction with Highway 138 due to road construction.
