Middle Fork Fire

Public health and safety concerns for fire personnel, park visitors, employees, and the general public have been identified and minimized. The fire threat to park natural and cultural resources and infrastructure has been reduced and mitigated to the extent possible with available resources. Economia impacts on the gateway communities have been minimized. Effects on park visitor experience have been reduced.

12 hours: Some creeping and flanking expected overnight with no significant spread expected, except if the fire has started working its way up the west slope of Devil's Ridge.

24 hours:  Good overnight RH recoveries and smoke should limit spread in the morning. By mid afternoon
spread will continue to the E and NE, in the heavy fuel component. Continued moderating trend of increased RHs will slow spread but flanking and backing will be expected with some torching likely. Fire is at the base of Devil's Ridge, to the east, and may begin finding a path to move up slope in the very scabby fuels but will have to work hard to find that path.

48 hours: Temps in the mid 70s and continued min RHs in the upper 30s will limit activity to primarily flanking, backing, and creeping. Although heavier jackpots of fuels could still sustain some surface spread and in the green stringers with a heavy down component, torching will still be possible. If fire reaches the top of Devil's Ridge from the west it will have to begin backing spread at a much slower rate to work it's way to the North Entrance Road.

72 hours: Westerly winds (WNW to WSW) will be light and terrain driven and temps will drop to the low 70s. This will lead to creeping with some backing and flanking possible with backing likely if the fire has crossed Devil's Ridge.

Anticipated after 72 hours:  Min RHs continue to increase into the upper 30s and 40s with temps around 70 resulting in spread by creeping with some flanking and backing and an isolated torch.

Significant heat and continuous fuels on the southwest flank poses operational challenges. Operations
personnel are looking for opportunities for indirect line construction on the southwest flank to mitigate the spread potential. The fire also continues to move northeast today. The lack of Type 1 hand crews impairs our ability to construct line in the most advantageous locations to minimize fire spread. HEQBs are required for supervision and safety during feller buncher operations. 2 Wildland Fire Use Modules are needed to effectively gauge and report fire growth, and engage the fire at critical locations. The specialized equipment and rubber tired excavator are needed to reduce impacts along the North Entrance road in Crater Lake National Park while it is being prepped as a control line.  A Population Protection Plan has been prepared to coordinate with Douglas County with evacuations, if we do not have the air and ground resources needed to keep the fire south of Highway 230 on the north side of the national park. Implementing the plan will result in closures of Highways 230, 138 and the North Entrance road and if we are unable to hold the fire south of Hwy 230, the plan calls for evacuations of the Diamond Lake resort and private residences.