7/31/2017 Blanket Fire Update

Focus on Improving Firelines as Weather Heats Up

Forecast weather: A Red Flag Warning has been issued for the area of the Blanket Creek Fire from noon to 9 pm today due to a highly unstable air mass that could lead to more active and erratic fire behavior.  Temperatures today are expected to reach 88 degrees and will continue to rise through mid-week with record setting potential. 

Sunday’s activities: Firefighters continued to build and secure fire line around the perimeter of the Blanket Creek Fire, now estimated to be 931 acres.  Firefighters worked late into the evening to complete firing operations on the north flank of the fire to establish a “black line” adjacent to the prepared road system and increase the depth and effectiveness of that containment line. Crews continued to establish fire line on the east and west flanks of the fire. Work also progressed along Forest Road 6205, including removing brush and falling snags, so it can serve as the southern containment line as the fire backs down the slope.

Resources from this area provided suppression activity on the Spruce Lake Fire, a new start located in Crater Lake National Park, which has grown to approximately 94 acres.  

Planned actions for today:  Continue to hold and secure line established from burn out operations on the north flank of the fire.  Hose lines are being installed along the northeastern fire containment lines, to prepare for extending the burn out efforts.  Line construction will resume on the east and west flanks of the fire, and crews will continue preparing Forest Road 6205 to serve as fire line as the fire backs down the slope to the road.  Helicopters will drop water to slow the fire’s spread as needed.  Local area firefighters will again assist suppression efforts on the Spruce Lake Fire. 

There are no homes or structures in the immediate area of this fire.  Local highways and Crater Lake National Park are fully open.  Fire personnel are using the day use portion of Joseph Stewart State Park for the Incident Command Post and camp.  The rest of the park, including Lost Creek Lake Marina and Store, is open to visitors and campers.

Fire danger is now classified as “Extreme” in Jackson County.  Responding to new fires reduces the ability of firefighters to address the existing fires.  Everyone is responsible to prevent new fire starts.

Fire at a Glance

Size: 931 acres

Containment: 3%

Location: 9 miles northeast of Prospect, Oregon; 5 miles southwest of Crater Lake National Park; north of Bessie Rock; on the north side of the Red Blanket Creek Drainage.

Cause: Lightning, Natural

Personnel: 540 (some are assisting other fires today)

Resources:

  6 Type 1 Hotshot Crews

14 Type 2 Crews

  4 Engines

  2 Water tenders

  2 Dozers

  3 Falling units

Aircraft:

1 Type 1 heavy helicopter

1 Type 2 medium helicopter

2 Type 3 light helicopters

Closures: An area around the fire is closed. The closure order and map are on the Rogue River – Siskiyou National Forest website and Inciweb.