8/22/2015 National Complex Fire Update

The Level One Evacuation Order for the area around Diamond Lake Area has been lifted.  The Douglas County Sherriff, with recommendations from the incident management team, has decided that the risk to structures and people from the Crescent Fire has been reduced enough to permit the lifting of the evacuation order.

Crater Lake National Park has closed the north entrance road between State Highway 138 at the park’s north boundary and the Crater Lake west rim drive at north junction.

Yesterday’s Activities: A burn-out operation was continued along the north entrance to Crater Lake National Park (CLNP) starting at 11:00 a.m. and through most of the early evening.  This was an important task designed to prevent the fire from progressing further east.  The goal was to connect the burnout along the north entrance road with the intersection of the mostly unvegetated Pumice Desert.  Hand crews and engines were stationed along the road to detect and suppress any fire east of the road. The Crescent Fire became moderately active again in the afternoon on the south flank with some group tree torching and short-range spotting.  Forest Road 3703 has been completely prepared for use as contingency fire line.

The Crescent Fire increased 414 acres yesterday.

Today’s Activities: Fire crews will closely monitor the burn-out along the north entrance of CLNP for any fire east of the road.  The structure protection group remains in place to protect structures near Diamond Lake and will begin to remove excess equipment such as sprinklers and hoses that are no longer needed.  Helicopters dropping water may be called upon to slow the spread of the fire, assist firefighters suppress spot fires across containment lines, or provide a reconnaissance platform for fire managers.  They also may be used to ignite a burn out designed to increase the depth of fine fuel removal along existing containment lines.

Weather:  Temperatures are expected to be higher today with a predicted east wind in the afternoon.  The relative humidity (amount of moisture in the air) is predicted to be below 20%. The potential for fire spotting remains high in the lodgepole pine areas and firefighters and equipment remain poised to respond.

Other Closures & Evacuations Orders: Crater Lake National Park remains open.  The north park entrance road remains closed to facilitate fire operations and provide for the safety of firefighters and park visitors.  A segment of the Pacific Crest Trial is also closed from the park north boundary to the junction with Lightning Springs Trail. State Highway 230 remains closed.  Access to the park is obtained from the South entrance off of State Highway 62.  The rim drive is open and smoke in the caldera has been minimal. 

Area closure orders have been issued for the Rogue River-Siskiyou and Umpqua National Forests near Diamond Lake.  There are trail closures in the National Park and on the Rogue River-Siskiyou and Umpqua National Forest.  Maps and descriptions of the trail and area closures are online at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4463/.