8/14/15 National Creek Complex Update

In determining overall strategy for fighting fire on the National Creek Complex, firefighters consider the values at risk and look at risk versus gain for suppression actions.

Yesterday’s Activities: Hoselays are in place and firefighters held and improved fireline on the National Fire. The fire is held up in the rocks on the southeast perimeter and being kept in check using aviation resources.

With the wind and Thursday’s low humidity levels, Crescent Fire grew another 1,800 acres. Firefighters responded to spot fires north of Highway 230 and those working in Division C disengaged for a brief time when the fire breached the 6530 road; jeopardizing egress.

As winds died down and temperatures cooled in the evening, firefighters working the swing shift took advantage of moderated fire activity to secure spot fires and strengthen containment lines on the northern edge. Working from the west along Highway 230 they implemented a firing operation to consume fuels within 300 feet of the Highway’s edge.

Today’s Activities: Firefighters are holding and mopping-up the National Fire and are building fireline and scouting contingency line for the Crescent Fire while working to hold the line that is already constructed. The structure protection group, supported by initial attack resources, is working in the Diamond Lake area.

Firefighters are poised to take advantage of the drop in temperatures and increase in humidity levels. They will work to contain spot fires north of Highway 230, fortifying that road for use as a fireline. Crews will begin constructing a contingency line northeast of the fire, working off of the 100 road east toward Highway 138 to keep the fire from spreading toward Diamond Lake. They will also begin improving the 3703 road to be a contingency line.

Weather: Temperatures should be about 10 degrees cooler and relative humidity levels higher than what they’ve been recently; A cold front is expected to move into the area late afternoon on Friday. The cooler, moister conditions should help moderate fire behavior. The lichen (a plant-like growth that hangs from tree branches) that has been igniting and blowing in the wind; contributing to fire spread, will be less likely to do so today because of the higher humidity levels. However, the heavy fuels, like large trees, that have been carrying fire will continue to burn. Winds are expected to shift to a westerly flow, pushing the fire more to the east-southeast toward Bald Crater.

Closures& Evacuations: Maps and descriptions of the trail and area closures are online at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4463/. Officials continue to evaluate the need for closures and evacuations; they will make changes as the situation warrants.

Highway 230 is closed from mile marker 12-24 (ODOT Tripcheck). There are trail closures in the National Park and on the Umpqua National Forest. An area closure is in place on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.

Diamond Lake Area is under a Stage 1 Evacuation Notice; the “ready” stage in “ready, set, go”