For a downloadable, emailable PDF of this update, click here.
Fire danger remains extreme and smoke in much of the area has become hazardous and unhealthy for the public and firefighters, and at the Incident Command Post south of Diamond Lake.
Approximate Size: 28,326 acres
Fire Information: (541) 316-8352blanketcreekfireinfo@gmail.com
Fire danger remains extreme and smoke in much of the area has become hazardous and unhealthy for the public and firefighters, and at the Incident Command Post south of Diamond Lake.
Yesterday’s Activity:
Although there were areas of very active fire yesterday, the dense smoke tempered potentially extreme fire behavior. The Blanket Creek Fire (12,734 ac) continued pushing further south/southeast into the 2008 Middle Fork Fire scar and backing further toward Mazama Village. Crews have almost finished the hand line to the northeast and chipping work was completed on Hwy 62. Firefighters are prepared to start burnout operations in this flank should the fire progress to that point. Spruce Lake Fire (6,907 ac) was active again and firefighters continued scouting for containment opportunities to the north and east of Red Cone. Firefighters worked to contain several small spot fires west of Broken Lookout Fire (4,893 ac)/Windy Gap Fire (804 ac). Prep work was completed along fire lines and FR 68 on the southwest and crews continued to clear and brush FR 6510 to help protect Union Creek from advancing fire. Structural protection work continued in Union Creek. A strategy was developed to secure the northeast flank of the Paradise Fire (1,134 ac) by prepping and tying FR 2947 to the Rogue Umpqua Divide Wilderness to the north. Good options have been identified on the east flank of the Pup Fire (1,734 ac) for indirect containment that will require minimal preparation. The persistent dense smoke at the Prospect Helibase kept helicopters grounded.
Today’s Planned Activity:
Air operations are working to establish a fueling station near Fort Klamath where the air has been consistently clearer. Air support is needed on all of the fires to slow forward spread, knock down flare ups, and allow crews and equipment to complete indirect containment lines. At the Blanket Creek Fire firefighters are ready to start burning along FR 3282 to stay ahead of the approaching fire as conditions allow. Crews are identifying options for indirect containment lines along trails and/or roads on the northeast flank between the leading edge of the fire and Mazama Village. On the Spruce Lake Fire crews will continue to look for opportunities to protect Red Cone. At Broken Lookout/Windy Gap/Paradise fires crews will work to strengthen established containment lines along FRs 68 and 6510 and constructed hand and dozer lines. As conditions allow, burnout operations will continue northwest along lines toward the Paradise Fire and southeast along FR 68. When completed, this will provide a blackened, more secure perimeter between these fires and Union Creek and areas further south. Firefighters will monitor the Pup Fire and continue point protection on the Hershberger Lookout and the adjacent telecommunication site.
A Level 1 Evacuation Notification remains in effect for the Union Creek area in Jackson County Oregon, due to fire activity from the Broken Lookout Fire. In addition, 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.
Weather and Fire Behavior:
Hot and dry conditions persist today. A mixing unstable air mass remains above the fire complex with light terrain driven winds. There is an increasing chance of cloudiness and isolated afternoon/evening showers starting Monday. Again today smoke bottled up in the lower drainages may be a mitigating factor. Very active fire behavior is possible especially on ridge tops and exposed areas and where continuous forest fuels line up with slope and winds. Rapid heat build-up could result in group torching, crown runs, and spotting.
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.
Crater Lake National Park West Rim Drive is open for the Labor Day weekend. The road will re-close at 9 p.m. on Monday, September 4, for road construction. Motorists and visitors should drive defensively, as smoke may be present on roadways in the area.
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. For specific closure information, visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5503.
For a downloadable, emailable PDF of this map, click here.
Fires at a Glance
