8/24/15 National Creek Fire Update

The Level One Evacuation Order for the area around Diamond Lake Area has been lifted

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.

State Highway 230 will be open to the public when conditions are safe.  Check with Tripcheck.com or call 511 for current information.  Even when open, areas of dense smoke, large fire equipment, and firefighters along the road are possible.  Pilot car escorts may be used or other restrictions may apply.  Please allow extra time for safe travel.

Oregon Interagency Incident Management Team 4, led by the Incident Commander Brian Goff, is managing the National Creek Complex.

Yesterday’s Activities: The fire was not as active as previous days due to an inversion layer shading the vegetation which reduced the intensity of the fire.  Helicopters could not be used safely to assist firefighters when heavy smoke covered the area.  On the south flank some group tree torching and short-range spotting occurred.  Multiple spot fires were detected and quickly suppressed east of the North Entrance Road to Crater Lake National Park (CLNP).

The National Creek Fire and the Crescent Fire will now be reported as the National Creek Complex.  Fire managers have estimate the size of the fire to be approximately 11,000 acres.

Today’s Activities: On the west flank of the fire, crews continue to build a dozer containment line and improve existing Forest Service roads to connect with Bert Creek Trailhead.  Firefighters working along the Crater Lake North Entrance road will continue to patrol and monitor for any new spot fires east of the road. Expect delays on Highway 138 near the Crater Lake North Entrance road due to heavy smoke today.  Law enforcement officers and Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) workers may be assisting travelers along State Highway 230 the north end of the fire.

Weather:  Warm and dry today with light ridge top winds predicted.  This afternoon wind gusts may be up to 25 mph.  There is a slight chance of isolated thunderstorms north of the fire area.  The relative humidity is expected to be around 25%. The potential for fire spotting remains high in the lodgepole pine areas and firefighters are poised to respond to either spot fires outside of containment lines or new fire starts caused by lightning strikes.

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. 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.