09-08-17 High Cascades Complex Daily Update

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


Fire Information: (541) 316-8352
blanketcreekfireinfo@gmail

Cooler temperatures, higher relative humidity and wetting rains from passing thunderstorms provided relief again to firefighters yesterday in the complex. Precipitation was highest on Broken Lookout and Pup fires with up to 0.25” compared to Spruce Lake and Blanket Creek fires with as little as 0.05”. Decreased fire behavior and growth were the norm as a result of the moderated weather.

Agency administrators have decided to split management of the fires in the High Cascade Complex assigning suppression responsibility of the Broken Lookout and Pup Fires to the current NW Incident Management Team 7 and the Spruce Lake and Blanket Lake fires to Southwest (SW) Team 3. SW Team 3 will also take over management of the North Pelican Fire. Transfer of command is set to take place at 7 a.m. on September 9th.

Yesterday’s Activity: Fire crews on the Spruce Lake Fire (14,411 ac) continued chipping and hauling away material along the west side of the North Entrance Road. Fire managers evaluated containment options should the fire push further to the north. Crews and engines mopped up and patrolled the east perimeter burnout along FR 3282 from three days ago on the Blanket Creek Fire (30,750 ac). Firefighters prepped containment lines on the SE corner and installed a hose lay to support a burnout should that be needed in the future. This fire again showed little movement toward Mazama Village. Crews on the Broken Lookout Fire (15,414 ac) continued prepping the established containment lines on FR 6510, 6510-700, and 6520 to the E and on FR 2947 and 2947-300 tying to the Rogue Umpqua Divide Wilderness to secure the N-NE flank. Firefighters did mop-up along the fire’s edge along the mid-west perimeter and made good progress prepping FR 2925 on the W perimeter. This fire again showed little movement to the east towards Union Creek. Hershberger Lookout and adjacent telecommunications site remain unaffected by the Pup Fire (6,271 ac).  A helicopter assigned to the Complex assisted the Oregon Department of Forestry with initial attack on a fire reported near Howard Prairie.

Today’s Planned Activity: Chipping may be completed 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 continue extending a containment line on the SE flank down to Sevenmile Canyon and doing burnout as conditions allow. Crews will mop-up and hold again along the west perimeter. 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 continue mop-up and use tactical firing along the mid-west flank as conditions warrant. Movement of the Pup Fire will be monitored.

Weather and Fire Behavior: The main pre-frontal upper disturbance that triggered thunderstorm activity on Wednesday and Thursday is gone but the upper trough is still along the coast. Therefore a chance of thunderstorms remains today. The weak frontal boundary will pass Saturday with breezier W-SW winds. Today will be cloudy to partly cloudy with temperatures in the mid to lower 70s and relative humidity at 34-50%. Active fire behavior has been modified for a day or two. Drying NE ridge winds return Sunday and will become stronger on Monday.

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. The Park plans to host the fifth annual Ride the Rim event on Saturday, September 9th and re-open the North Entrance Road by Saturday morning. The West Rim Drive will re-open at 4 p.m. today for the weekend. Park officials will monitor fire conditions to ensure public safety and could re-close the roads should fire conditions pose a threat.

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: The entire Rogue-Umpqua Divide and Sky Lakes wilderness areas are 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.

Quick Facts Incident Summary
Approximate Size: 66,966
Fire Containment:18%
Incident Commander: Eric Knerr
Resources on the fire: Crews: 16 Helicopters: 6 Engines: 17 Water Tenders: 14 Dozers: 4
Total Personnel: 649
Jurisdiction: Rogue River-Siskiyou NF, Crater Lake NP, Umpqua NF, Fremont-Winema NF

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5503
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Joint Information Center: https://swojic.blogspot.com/
Oregon Smoke Blog: http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com

09-08-17 High Cascades Smoke Forecast

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

Smoke: Cooling weather and rain in some areas over the fires has reduced smoke considerably although areas near the fires are likely to continue to experience heavy smoke at times throughout the day. Air quality is expected to remain improved through tomorrow but warming and drying expected on Sunday could increase fire activity and smoke again. Cooling weather and rain in some areas over the fires has reduced smoke considerably although areas near the fires are likely to continue to experience heavy smoke at times throughout the day. Air quality is expected to remain improved through tomorrow but warming and drying expected on Sunday could increase fire activity and smoke again.