Tuesday, August 11, 2015

8/11/2015 National Creek Complex Update



Red Flag Warning for Thunderstorms with Accompanying Erratic Winds from 5:00pm to 12:00am

The Diamond Lake Area is under a Stage 1 Evacuation Notice
Public Meeting at the Diamond Lake Campground Amphitheater, 4:00 pm Tuesday, 8-11-2115 

Summary: Anticipated thunderstorms failed to materialize over the National Creek Complex fires.  This provided firefighters respite from the powerful downdraft winds and lightning that often accompany the storms. Growth on the Crescent Fire, in Crater Lake National Park, was substantially less than previous day as smoke from the interior of the fires shaded fuels and limited fire behavior.  The fire moved to the east around Boundary Springs and is now entrenched on three sides of the springs.  A Red Flag Warning is in effect for this afternoon and evening although forecasted thunderstorms are expected to be much more isolated than Monday.  Ed Lewis’ Type 1 Incident Management Team will shadow Diane Hutton’s Type 2 Team today and assume command of the fire on Wednesday. Work by crews on the National Fire has kept it within containment lines. A full suppression strategy is being pursued due to the extreme drought conditions resulting from the lack of snow-pack last winter.

Yesterday’s Activity: The Crescent Fire changed the direction of its advance from the northeast to the east and slowed considerably on Monday.  Crews made good progress in constructing line down the west flank of the fire.  Operations Section Chief Brad McBratney complimented crews on the National Fire as he has noticed a significant drop in the heat on that fire from day to day.  Firefighters continued to improve lines around the National Fire by using water and pumps to strengthen lines and mop-up hot-spots.  Contingency lines based on the Forest Service road system to the west continued to be widened and improved using dozers, crews and engines. Fire managers, met with representatives of Douglas and Jackson Counties, and local Forest and Park Service officials to coordinate actions in the Diamond Lake area and plan for potential evacuations, if necessary. 

Today’s Plans: High Cascades District Ranger Mitch Wilkinson blessed firefighters with a traditional Native American song at the morning briefing.  Weather forecasters are predicting a reduced chance of isolated thunderstorms on Tuesday but enough to trigger a Red Flag Warning starting at 5:00 pm and continuing through the evening.  Thunderstorms can create hazardous conditions for firefighters due to accompanying swirling winds and lightning.  The associated lightning can also start new fires and some resources will be assigned to initial attack.  Crews on the Crescent Fire will look to strengthen the retardant drops made on Sunday night along the northwest edge of the fire.  Excellent cooperation between the Forest, Park and other incidents in the area have created a synergy with the use of helicopter resources.  The crews on the National Fire will continue to reduce heat to make their perimeters secure. and reduce heat. 

Closure:  Crater Lake National Park has closed the Boundary Springs and Bald Crater Loop Trails between the intersections with the Pacific Crest Trail and Highway 230due to potentially hazardous conditions created by the National Creek Complex Fires.  The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest is implementing an area closure beginning at the Forest boundary between the Rogue River-Siskiyou and Umpqua Forests on Highway 230 then running south to the Crater Lake National Park Boundary then southerly and westerly along the National Park boundary to a point due east of the Douglas/Jackson County line then west along the County line to Highway 230 then north and easterly to the point of beginning. All Crater Lake National Park facilities and roads remain open and safe to use.

Follow us on at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4463/


Quick Facts
Cause:  Lightning                                                            Personnel:  325
Location:  10 Miles Southwest of Diamond Lake, OR              Crews: 10   
Jurisdiction:  Crater Lake NP & Rogue River-Siskiyou NF        Helicopters: 4
Size:  1072 acres (Crescent 953 acres, National 119 acres)    Injuries: 2
Fire Objective:  Full Suppression Strategy, tactics may differ between the National Park and National Forest 



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