Single Publication

July 28, 2024

Northwest Team 7 is currently managing the Diamond Complex, estimated at 4,990 acres and 7% contained, consisting of 26 fires.  The team has assumed command of the Middle Fork, 659 acres and 1% contained, within Crater Lake National Park. The park remains open. There are fire personnel in the area, so visitors should use caution when traveling within the park.

Currently there are 27 fires and 620 personnel assigned to the two incidents. 

Crews are engaged in a full suppression strategy utilizing direct attack on the fires’ edge where access and firefighter safety allow and implement indirect strategies using constructed control lines or natural barriers where direct attack cannot be done safely.  Pacific Power and Light infrastructure within the complex continue to be a top priority for protection as crews attack fires threatening those resources. 

The Trail fire, east of Hwy 138 on the west slope of Mt. Thielsen, is 826 acres and 25% contained. Crews continue to strengthen containment lines on the north and south flanks to keep the fire within the current control lines. 

The Lemolo fire, north of Lemolo Lake on Bunker Hill, is 775 acres and 0% contained. Crews have made good progress on the east flank and will continue to secure the dozer line and look for opportunities to implement control lines north of the fire to protect recreational values around Lemolo Lake.

The Pine Bench fire, north of Hwy 138 near Dry Creek, is 1,855 acres and 0% contained. The Prineville Hotshots initiated a burn out operations along the 4775 road. This tactic uses fire to fight fire by strategically burning fuels between the containment line and the fires’ edge. Crews will continue to monitor around the burn out and mop up any new spot fires that occur.

The Watson fire, north of Hwy 138 on Watson Ridge, is 232 acres and 50% contained. It has been fully lined with hand line and dozer line or hoses, and crews will work to fortify and hold these lines in today’s shift. 

The Loafer fire is at 33 acres and 50% contained, crews were able to utilize a masticator, a piece of heavy equipment used to clear vegetation off existing roads. This allowed crews to gain closer access to the fire where they utilized water tenders to soak any hot spots along the edge. Today they will continue to fortify the line and identify any additional hot spots.

There are smaller clusters of fires within the complex that consist of: Pig Iron, 27 acres and 95% contained, near Pig Iron Mountain north of Hwy 138; Brodie, 109 acres and 0% contained,  about 5 miles south of Hwy 138 and south of Devils Canyon; Trep, 123 acres and 0% contained, about 4 miles south of Hwy 138; Garwood, 5 acres and 95% contained, about 3 miles southwest of Mt. Bailey; Slide, 0.1 acres and 95% contained, northeast of Pine Bench; Potter, 673 acres and 0% contained, north of Hwy 138 about 2 miles southeast of Potter Mountain; Ooya, 182 acres and 0% contained, north of Hwy 138 about 1 mile northeast of Bird Point; Clearwater, 0.7 acre and 100% contained, south of Hwy 138 about 5 miles northwest of Diamond Lake; Elephant, 0.7 acres and 95% contained, 2 miles southwest of Lemolo Lake; Lost Bear, 0.1 acres and 0% contained, 2 miles south of Hwy 138; Lost, 14 acres and 0% contained, 4 miles south of Hwy 138;  Sheep, 0.3 acres and 95% contained, 3 miles north of Diamond Lake; Thin, 0.6  acre and 90% contained, four miles northwest of Diamond Lake; Trap, 11 acres and 0% contained, 1 mile south of Hwy 138 near Trap Mountain; Bear Trap, 64 acres and 10% contained, 2 miles south of Hwy 138 near Bear Trap Mountain; Campwood, 17 acres and 0% contained, 2 miles south of Hwy 138; Rough, 11 acres and 0% contained, two miles south of Hwy 138;  Birds, 0.1 acres and 100% contained; Wood, 21 acres and 0% contains, 2 miles south of Hwy 138, and Mowich, 0.4 acre and 75% contained, 1 mile north of Hwy 138. In addition, there are two more unnamed fires in the complex, both at 0.4 acres and 0% contained. 

The Middle Fork fire is located in the northwest corner of Crater Lake National Park. Crews made excellent progress yesterday establishing a western boundary and will continue to fortify this line today.  Divisions will work across the southern perimeter to create fuel breaks to stop progression toward the historic buildings and infrastructure in the park. They will continue to improve access and create fuel breaks along the Bert Creek Trail to the junction of the Bald Creek Trail.

Today, firefighters will continue direct suppression on accessible fires, and will develop specific suppression strategies for other less accessible fires to be carried out as resources become available.

Nationally and in the Pacific Northwest, fire activity is putting an extreme demand on firefighting resources. The highest priority remains public and firefighter safety and protecting infrastructure and homes.

Weather: The forecast remains in the mid to upper 70’s and will be mostly sunny today with areas of smoke. Humidity levels remain in the 20-30% range through the weekend, and are expected to increase early next week as weather pattens shift and temperatures increase by the end of the week.

Fire Behavior: Lower humidity recoveries over night will result in more active fire behavior especially along ridgetops where fuels are drier. Some short uphill runs are possible through surface fuels with potential for some single tree or group torching in the afternoon hours.

Smoke Outlook: Smoke will remain the area and may reduce visibility and hinder air operations.  For the most up to date information, please visit www.fire.airnow.gov 

Diamond Lake Campgrounds are open. 

Starting July 27, 2024, the Administrative Closure for Diamond Lake, Thielsen View, and Broken Arrow Campgrounds has been lifted. Campgrounds will be first-come, first-serve for Saturday, July 27, and Sunday, July 28. They will go back into reservation status for Monday, July 29.

Closures and Evacuations: Umpqua National Forest has issued two closures across the forest in response to fire activity to protect public and wildland firefighter safety. Emergency Fire Closure ORDER NO. 06-15-24-03 and Emergency Fire Closure ORDER NO. 06-15-02-24-01 impact all of the Cottage Grove Ranger District, most of the Diamond Lake Ranger District, and parts of the Tiller and North Umpqua Ranger Districts. The closure orders can be found here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/umpqua/alerts-notices. Fire danger is set at Very High and Public Use Restrictions are set at Level 2: https://bit.ly/3xIZZdK.    

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office has downgraded the evacuation order for the Trail fire from a Level 2: BE SET to a Level 1: Get Ready, but the Level 3: GO NOW remains in effect for the Trail fire east of Hwy 138. The Level 2: BE SET and Level 3: GO NOW evacuations for the Lemolo fire remain in place. There is still a Level 2: BE SET for the Pine Bench Fire. For more information visit the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office website: www.dcso.com/evacuations.