Single Publication

Diamond Complex

• Size: 11,141 acres
• Containment: 78%
• Personnel: 927
• Location: 18 miles SW of Chemult, OR
• Start Date: July 19, 2024
• Cause: Undetermined

Middle Fork Fire

• Size: 5,282 acres
• Containment: 48% 
• Personnel: 75
• Location: Crater Lake National Park
• Start Date: July 17, 2024
• Cause: Undetermined

Visitor and Firefighter Safety, Fire Restrictions and Closures

Throughout the Labor Day holiday, expect heavy traffic including firefighting equipment. Drivers on Hwy. 230, which is on the northwest side of Crater Lake National Park, should be especially cautious. Firefighters are using heavy equipment to remove downed and dead wood in this area. 

Slow down when approaching areas of firefighter activity. Minimize distractions and focus on driving. Please be patient, keep your eyes on the road and be aware of your surroundings. 

For your safety and ours, do not enter closed areas. Barriers may not block the entire roadway to allow for firefighter traffic. However, the public should not drive past these barriers. Areas are closed because of fire activity, falling trees, heavy equipment and road grading operations. Drivers entering closed areas endanger themselves and disrupt firefighters’ work. 

The Umpqua National Forest, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest and Crater Lake National Park have different fire restrictions in place. Crater Lake National Park has implemented a fire ban whereas the Umpqua and Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forests have Level 2 fire restrictions. Know where you are and follow restriction information posted on the forests’ and national park’s websites.

• Crater Lake National Park: https://www.nps.gov/crla/index.htm
• Umpqua National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/umpqua
• Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/rogue-siskiyou 

Current Fire Situation

Fires were moderately active yesterday. However, it was within current fire footprints and did not threaten containment lines. Despite warm, dry weather and afternoon winds, firefighters made good progress on fires in the Diamond Complex and increased containment on the Middle Fork Fire. An initial attack crew is ready to respond to any new starts from possible dry thunderstorms today.

Middle Fork Fire

Firefighters increased containment, securing lines on the south and west sides. Today, they will focus on scouting and patrolling lines on the north and east sides. Crews will continue suppression repair and heavy road work especially on Highway 230 where they are removing downed and dead wood. 

Diamond Complex

• Pine Bench Fire (north of Hwy. 138 near Dry Creek, 3,976 acres, 65% contained): Yesterday, firefighters focused on mopping up heat on the east side of the fire. Today they will focus on heat on the north and northwest side of the fire. Crews also will continue suppression repair and pulling excess equipment.
• Potter Fire (north of Hwy. 138, 2 miles southeast of Potter Mountain, 3,428 acres, 38% contained): Yesterday, firefighters continued monitoring heat in the fire’s interior and found nothing threatening containment lines. Helicopters dropped water on the north side to knock down fire activity, allowing firefighters on the ground to mop up cooled areas. On the east side of the fire, firefighters found heat under the duff layers of heavy timber stands. Crews will continue to patrol and monitor, hold and improve line and clean up around the water flume. On the southwest side of the fire, due to concerns about the possibility of fire moving into dead timber from an earlier fire, firefighters are working on a fuel break plan. Crews will continue chipping operations and road work on the north and east sides of the fire. 
• Lemolo Fire (north of Lemolo Lake, 1,246 acres, 100% contained): Yesterday helicopters dropped water to cool flare ups in needle cast. Firefighters will continue to monitor and mop up heat. 
• Multiple fires within the complex: Firefighters will continue patrolling and mopping up hotspots. Where possible, crews are repairing areas disturbed by wildfire suppression including chipping, brushing and installing water bars to minimize future soil erosion.

Weather and Fire Behavior        

A low-pressure system coming on shore is bringing cooler temperatures and higher humidity. High temperatures in the high 60s to low 70s expected with west winds gusting to 18 mph along ridgelines. There is a 30% chance of thunderstorms moving over the fire area and a 5% chance of wetting rain. Storms will be capable of producing frequent lightning and outflow gusts of 40 mph. Tuesday will be cool and dry. A warming, drying trend returns mid-week.

Cooler, moister weather will reduce fire activity to smoldering and creeping. Higher activity is possible if winds increase. 

Smoke Outlook

Local smoke has increased from new and existing wildfires. For more information, visit outlooks.airfire.org/outlook and fire.airnow.gov.

Evacuations

No evacuations are in place.

Forest Closure and Fire Restrictions

Umpqua National Forest has decreased Public Use Restrictions to Level 2. The forest remains in High Fire Danger and Industrial Fire Precaution Levels are at Level 2. For more information, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/umpqua/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD1202470. 

Umpqua National Forest’s current closure order allows access to specific roads, trails and campgrounds, which are listed as exemptions in Forest Order 06-15-24-07. For more information, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/umpqua/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD1202210.

A closure is in place on Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest for the area north and west of Crater Lake National Park along Hwy. 230 south to the intersection with Hwy. 62. The closure order and a map are available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/rogue-siskiyou/alerts-notices.

All Umpqua National Forest Ranger Stations are closed today in observance of Labor Day.

Park Closure and Fire Restrictions

Crater Lake National Park remains open. However, several closures are in effect. For details, visit  https://www.nps.gov/crla/planyourvisit/conditions.htm.

The north entrance to Crater Lake National Park will remain open until 6 a.m. tomorrow. Fire operations may necessitate temporary closures or delays along the North Entrance Road. 

Traffic at park entrances will be busier than usual throughout the day. Long lines and waits of up to 2 hours are expected at both entrance stations. Arriving before 10 a.m. or after 3 p.m. may reduce wait times. If you are not visiting the park, consider avoiding Hwy. 62. 

At 6 a.m. tomorrow and continuing until further notice, the North Entrance will be closed to all traffic to allow hazard reduction work related to the Middle Fork Fire to resume. During this time, access to the park will be limited to the South Entrance. 

Know before you go. Check the latest conditions and road status before you arrive at your destination to ensure a smooth, enjoyable visit. Updates are available on the park website at https://www.nps.gov/crla and on Oregon Tripcheck at https://www.tripcheck.com.

REMINDER: The Pacific Crest Trail between the Lightning Springs and Rim Trail Intersections, Bald Crater Loop, Bert Creek and Boundary Springs Trails are closed until further notice due to potentially hazardous conditions created by the Middle Fork Fire. Hikers and bikers may not use the North Entrance Road to enter or leave Crater Lake National Park.

Temporary flight restrictions (TFRs)

TFRs are in place over the Middle Fork Fire https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_4_8387.html (6 a.m. to 9 a.m. local time to accommodate uncrewed aircraft systems work) and https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_4_7055.html (9 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time). TFRs are also in place over the Potter and Pine Bench Fires https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_4_7055.html (9 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time).