9-07-17 High Cascades Daily Fire Update

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

Fire Information: (541) 316-8352

blanketcreekfireinfo@gmail.com

A blanket of dense widespread smoke moderated all fires in the complex yesterday. Thunderstorms moved through the area on Wednesday afternoon with scattered thunder and lightning. The storms dropped scattered to moderate amounts of rain overnight and into Thursday morning bringing temporary relief to the fire behavior exhibited earlier in the week.


Yesterday’s Activity: Fire crews on the Spruce Lake Fire (13,601 ac) finished prepping and continued chipping along the west side of the North Entrance Road, the primary containment line on the NE flank. An engine crew patrolled along Hwy 230 looking for any spots as a result of the fire’s rapid spread Tuesday. Crews and engines held the eastern perimeter burnout along FR 3282 on the Blanket Creek Fire (29,154 ac) for the second consecutive day. Firefighters continued building handline on the SE corner of the fire to the wilderness boundary and evaluated containment options along the south. This fire again showed little movement toward Mazama Village. Crews on the Broken Lookout Fire (7,400 ac) made good progress again in strengthening the established containment lines on FR 6510, 6510700, and 6520 to the east. Firefighters continued prepping and tying FR 2947 and 2947-300 to the Rogue Umpqua Divide Wilderness to secure the N-NE flank. Firefighters completed prepping FR 29 on the NW perimeter and continued prep work on FR 2925 on the W perimeter. This fire has shown little movement to the east towards Union Creek. Fire crews continued prep work on FR 6540 in the Foster Creek drainage for containment of the Pup Fire (2,500 ac). All helicopters were grounded by the dense smoke over the complex.

Today’s Planned Activity: Chipping will continue along the west side of the North Entrance Road on the Spruce Lake Fire readying this containment line for future burnout should it become necessary. Firefighters on the Blanket Creek Fire will begin mopping up along the east flank, use dozers to cleanup constructed line in the SE corner, and continue constructing handline to the wilderness boundary. Crews will also locate and construct direct and indirect lines going further west along the southern perimeter. Engine crews will patrol the W flank of the fire. Crews on the Broken Lookout Fire will continue prep work on the W perimeter along FR 2925 and on the NW along FR 2947. Firefighters will work to strengthen the established containment lines on the E and also look for opportunities to build direct fireline in Woodruff Creek and on the mid-west flank. Movement of the Pup Fire will be monitored. Firefighters in the complex will be assisting the local Agencies on any initial attack needs from the many lightning strikes yesterday and overnight. Weather and Fire Behavior: An upper disturbance will bring cooler and moister conditions today with scattered thunderstorms to include heavy rain, small hail and outflow winds. The upper level disturbance will help to mix out the atmosphere a bit today and Friday. The prevailing afternoon westerly winds may contribute to areas of very active fire behavior where fuels remain dry. Showers and thunderstorms may continue Friday but most storms may shift to the east. A RED FLAG WARNING has been issued through 11 p.m. tonight due to the thunderstorms, erratic wind and potential flash flooding.

A Level 1 Evacuation Notification remains in effect for the Union Creek area in Jackson County Oregon, due to 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.

The North Entrance Road to Crater Lake National Park remains closed due to a potential threat from the Spruce Lake Fire. West Rim Drive also remains closed for road construction and visitor safety until 4 p.m. on Friday. Motorists and visitors to the area also need to be aware of road construction activities on Hwy 230 between Union Creek and the junction with Hwy 138.

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: The entire Rogue-Umpqua Divide and Sky Lakes wilderness areas are now closed to public entry due to the threat of wildfires. There are a number of additional area, road and trail closures 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.