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Diamond Complex 
2024.Diamondcomplex@firenet.gov

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July 24, 2024

Firefighters continue to discover new fires resulting from a lightning storm July 16. In the past 24 hours another 8 fires totaling an estimated 62 acres have been identified and added to the Diamond Complex, on the Diamond Lake Ranger District of the Umpqua National Forest. 

Currently there are 20 fires totaling an estimated 3,811 acres in the Diamond Complex, with 278 personnel assigned. The Complex is 3% contained. All fires are under a full suppression strategy. Firefighters are directly attacking the fires’ edge where access and firefighter safety allow, and implementing indirect strategies using constructed control lines, and utilizing natural barriers where access issues and safety concerns prevent direct attack. 

The fires comprising the Diamond Complex are: Pine Bench, 1,472 acres, and 0% contained, north of Hwy 138 near Dry Creek;  Trail, 827 acres and 5% contained, east of Hwy 138 on the west slope of Mt. Thielsen; Lemolo, 518 acres and 0% contained, north of Lemolo Lake on Bunker Hill;  Pig Iron, 27 acres and 25% contained, Pig Iron Mountain north of Hwy 138; Watson, 144 acres and 0% contained, north of Hwy 138 on Watson Ridge,  Brodie, 95 acres and 0% contained,  about 5 miles south of Hwy 138 and south of Devils Canyon; Trep, 101 acres and 0% contained, about 4 miles south of Hwy 138; Garwood, 5 acres and 65% contained, about 3 miles southwest of Mt. Bailey; Slide, 0.1 acres and 90% contained, northeast of Pine Bench;  Potter, 372 acres,  north of Hwy 138 about 2 miles southeast of Potter Mt.;  Ooya, 123 acres, north of Hwy 138 about 1 mile northeast of Bird Point; Clearwater, 7 acres and 90% contained, south of Hwy 138 about 5 miles northwest of Diamond Lake;  Elephant, 0.7 acres and 0% contained, 2 miles southwest of Lemolo Lake; Lost Bear, 5 acres and 0% contained, 2 miles south of Hwy 138, and Lost, 12 acres and 0% contained, 4 miles south of Hwy 138. The 8 newest fires totaling 62 acres are widely scattered and have not been named.

Nationally and in the Pacific Northwest, fire activity is putting an extreme demand on firefighting resources. This means that firefighters must carefully prioritize and efficiently utilize available resources to protect values at risk. The highest priority will remain public and firefighter safety and protecting infrastructure and homes. 

Yesterday, Northwest Team 7 continued active suppression on the Trail Fire. Afternoon winds increased fire behavior on the northwest flank, pushing the fire into a previous burn scar in the Mt. Thielsen Wilderness where the fire lost intensity. On the Lemolo fire, fire line is established on the east and northeast of the 700 road. Lower humidity and higher wind speeds contributed to increased fire activity. Two helicopters dropped water to slow the fire. The Ooya and Potter fires are showing moderate growth, as firefighters develop a strategy to contain these fires when resources become available.  On the Pig Iron fire, work continues to get the fire into patrol status. Access has been established to the Watson fire and a dozer is working the fire. Firefighters worked to keep the Pine Bench fire west of Forest Road 4775, and successfully suppressed several spot fires. Several of the newly identified fires were successfully attacked and contained.

Today, active suppression continues with the Lemolo, Trail, Pig Iron and Pine Bench fires as priorities. Work will continue to get water delivery and fire line established on the Watson Fire.

Weather: Today will be slightly cooler with slightly higher humidity.  Exposed, higher elevation fires will see gusty westerly winds. Very dry forest fuels and steep terrain will contribute to potentially active fire behavior.

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 which 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. Additionally, Diamond Lake, Thielsen View, and Broken Arrow Campgrounds are closed through July 28, 2024, and will be reevaluated closer to that date. Fire danger is set at High and Public Use Restrictions are set at Level 2: https://bit.ly/3xIZZdK. 

Douglas County Sheriff has issued a Level 3: GO NOW and Level 2: BE SET for the Trail Fire and Lemolo Fire. There is a Level 2: BE SET for the Pine Bench Fire. Please see detailed information here: www.dcso.com/evacuations.