8-27-17 High Cascades Daily Fire Update

For a downloadable, emailable PDF of this update, click here.

Fire Information: (541) 316-8352

Current Situation:
The High Cascades Complex now consists of the Paradise, Pup and Windy Gap fires, formerly
associated with the Falcon Complex on the Umpqua National Forest and the Blanket Creek, Spruce
Lake, Sherwood and Broken Lookout fires located within Crater Lake National Park and the Rogue
River-Siskiyou and Fremont-Winema National Forests.

Closures:
There are numerous area, road and trail closures associated with these fires issued by Crater Lake
National Park and the three National Forests. Firefighters and fire managers appreciate the
cooperation of the public in respecting the closures for their own safety and the efficiency and
effectiveness of the firefighting operations.

Weather/Fire Behavior:
Yesterday saw increased fire activity as the weather pattern began to warm and dry, with fire
perimeters spreading along unlined areas of the fires within the complex. Today’s weather is
forecast to be the hottest, driest and most unstable weather of the current pattern resulting in a
Red Flag Warning being issued for the entire complex area. Significant acreage increases are
possible on the uncontained perimeter of most fires within the complex.

Fires at a Glance:
The Blanket Creek Fire
(8,176 acres) continued spreading to the east within the Sky Lakes Wilderness and Crater Lake National Park. Aircraft dropping water were used to slow the growth of the head of the fire.

The Spruce Lake Fire
(5,381 acres) displayed minimal growth on the northeast flank as that fire burns into natural barriers. A crew completed a contingency line to the north of the fire intended to protect resources in the Red Cone vicinity of Crater Lake National Park.

The Sherwood Fire
(77 acres) is now completely lined and has been mopped up 100 feet from the perimeter. Firefighters engaged to build direct line around the Pup Fire (148 acres) located within the Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness.

The Paradise Fire
The fire grew to 421 acres as firefighters held existing fire line established on the north
and west flanks and continued to construct line to the south.

Windy Gap & Broken Lookout Fires
Firefighters worked to establish indirect lines on the Windy Gap Fire (99 acres) and the Broken Lookout Fire (2,098 acres) located near each other on either side of the Rogue-Umpqua divide northeast of Huckleberry Gap in the Rogue Umpqua Divide Wilderness and Abbot Creek Research Natural Area. These two fires are expected to grow together in the near future.

For a downloadable, emailable PDF of this map, click here.

Today’s Planned Activity:
Crews will continue to work around structures in Mazama Village and prepare Highway 62 in the southeast corner of Crater Lake National Park as a future containment line for the Blanket Creek Fire. They will be doing the same type of work along Forest Road 68 in relation to the Windy Gap and Broken Lookout Fires. They will also continue to extend the established line on the west flank of the Paradise Fire toward Forest Road 68 to hold the west flank of that fire in check. They have completed the mop-up of the Sherwood Fire and have achieving 100% containment. Additional resources will be assigned to the Pup Fire with the goal of completing direct hand line around the fire. The Spruce Lake Fire will be monitored. Helicopters, scooper aircraft and air tankers will be available to assist ground crews as needed, provided smokey conditions does not hinder their use.

Smoke Outlook and Closure Information:
A full smoke forecast and detailed information about the area, road and trail closures
associated with the fires on the High Cascades Complex can be viewed at: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5503
To check visibility at Crater Lake National Park, check out the webcams at
https://www.nps.gov/crla/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm.

Quick Facts
Size: 16,400 acres
Containment: 60%
Incident Commander: Eric Knerr
Resources:
Crews: 18
Helicopters: 8
Engines: 28
Water Tenders: 21
Dozers: 3
Total Personnel: 856

Social Media Resources
Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5503
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/R6RRSNF/
https://www.facebook.com/SCOFMPFIREINFO/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RRSNF #HighCascadesComplex