Single Publication

The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for dry lightning over the fire area today. Scattered thunderstorms may also produce gusty and erratic winds.  

The Diamond Complex on the Umpqua National Forest is estimated at 6,134 acres and 11% contained, with 501 people assigned. Resources are shared with the Middle Fork fire.  Following a day of rapid growth, the Middle Fork fire within Crater Lake National Park is estimated at 1,938 acres and 1% contained. The park remains open. Hwy 230 north of the park has been impacted by the fire. Firefighters are working from this road to stop the northward progression of the fire. Travelers should consult https://tripcheck.com/ for current road conditions as traffic may be interrupted by firefighting operations.  

The Umpqua National Forest increased Public Use Restrictions to Level 3 across all ranger districts of the forest in response to the drying conditions and increased fire activity. More information can be found at bit.ly/3xIZZdK. Broken Arrow, Diamond Lake, and Thielsen View Campgrounds are open and taking reservations through www.recreation.gov   

A very active fire season in the Pacific Northwest and across the nation means that firefighting resources are stretched thin. Firefighting is prioritized to attack the fires that are most threatening to critical values at risk. The highest priorities for protection are those fires that threaten life, property, transportation, hydropower infrastructure and developed recreation areas. 

The Trail fire, east of Hwy 138 on the west slope of Mt. Thielsen, is 839 acres and 40% contained. The fire will be monitored from the air and firefighters will respond as needed. 

The Lemolo fire, north of Lemolo Lake on Bunker Hill, is 873 acres and 10% contained. Firefighters are concluding strategic burning operations to strengthen containment on all flanks and have made good progress to tie the containment lines to the Lemolo Lake Road.   

The Pine Bench fire, north of Hwy 138 near Dry Creek, is 2,117 acres and 10% contained. Crews continue to hold and mop up along the FS 4775 Road and patrol the 900 Road and Hwy 138. Work is underway to build indirect contingency fire line by opening and brushing roads to the east and north of the fire, to be used if the fire were to move out of the Boulder Creek Wilderness. Firefighters are scouting for opportunities to check the western flank of the fire in the Wilderness. 

Crews on both the Watson fire, 236 acres and 50% contained, and Loafer fire, 37 acres and 50% contained, will continue their successful containment and mop up on these fires. 

Bear Trap, 64 acres and 50% contained, 2 miles south of Hwy 138 near Bear Trap Mountain now has a control line around the entire fire and crews are mopping up. 

Ooya, 190 acres and 0% contained, north of Hwy 138 about 1 mile northeast of Bird Point. Work continues to remove hazardous snags (standing dead trees) to establish safe access to begin active work on the fire. There is significant power infrastructure to the south of this fire, making it a high priority.  

Potter, 747 acres and 0% contained, north of Hwy 138 about 2 miles southeast of Potter Mountain. Crews are assessing access points to work on containing this fire, to protect critical hydropower infrastructure below the fire. 

Brodie, 121 acres and 0% contained, about 5 miles south of Hwy 138 and south of Devils Canyon. Today this fire is unstaffed, to provide resources for suppression of the Middle Fork fire. 

Trep, 133 acres and 0% contained, about 4 miles south of Hwy 138. This fire became more active in hotter and drier weather, burning about 1.5 miles eastward toward the Lost fire, 25 acres and 0% contained. These fires may require containment as a single perimeter. Crews completed a dozer line across the north flank of the Trep fire. 

Other fires within the complex consist of:  Pig Iron near Pig Iron Mountain north of Hwy 138, is 27 acres and 95% contained;  Rough, 11 acres and 25% contained,  Garwood, 5 acres and 95% contained, about 3 miles southwest of Mt. Bailey; Slide, 0.1 acres and 95% contained, northeast of Pine Bench;; 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;   Sheep, 0.3 acres and 95% contained, 3 miles north of Diamond Lake; Thin, 0.6  acre and 95% contained, four miles northwest of Diamond Lake; Trap, 15 acres and 0% contained, 1 mile south of Hwy 138 near Trap Mountain; Campwood, 20 acres and 25% contained, 2 miles south of Hwy 138;  Birds, 0.1 acres and 100% contained; Wood, 23 acres and 25% contained, 2 miles south of Hwy 138, Mowich, 0.4 acre and 95% contained, 1 mile north of Hwy 138,  Toolbox, 0.1 acres and 95% contained, Dog, 0.1 acres and 100% contained; and Canal, 1 acre and 75% contained. 

The Middle Fork fire is in the northwest corner of Crater Lake National Park. This fire has been primarily burning in the scars of previous fires but became very active in the past two days when it reached an area of green timber that had not burned recently. The fire remains within the park and did not burn toward critical infrastructure. Firefighters are planning to re-open and improve fire containment lines from previous fires to contain the fire south of Hwy 230.  

The Pacific Crest Trail from the Dutton Ridge Intersection to Hwy 138, Lightning Springs, Bald Crater Loop, Bert Creek and Boundary Springs Trails (within the park) are closed.    

Weather: Cloudy skies will prevail today with a chance of thunderstorms. Some of these storms could produce dry lightning. Temperatures will be a little cooler with higher relative humidity. A slight chance of storms will continue tonight and Sunday. Winds will be from the west-northwest at 5-8 mph with gusts to 10 mph.  

Fire Behavior: Smoke shading and higher humidity will moderate fire behavior. By late afternoon,  the fire will become more active, with isolated group torching, short and scattered crown runs, and increased spotting distance. 

Smoke Outlook: Smoke production will increase with increased fire behavior. Smoke will remain in the area and may reduce visibility and hinder air operations.  For the most up to date information, please visit fire.airnow.gov/  

Fire prevention: Please be very careful with any potential ignition sources. Don’t park in dry grass, and make sure tow chains do not drag. Please be mindful of campfire restrictions and appropriate use of liquid fuel stoves.  

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: www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/umpqua/alerts-notices. Fire danger is set at Very High and Public Use Restrictions are set at Level 3: 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