8/22/2017 High Cascades Complex Update

High Cascades Complex

Daily Fire Update

Fire growth was seen on Broken Lookout, Sherwood and Blanket Creek Fires. Smoke will impact air quality and visibility throughout the region, causing unhealthy conditions in the fire area. Some crews have been reassigned to higher priority fires in the region.

Blanket Creek Fire -           Start Date: July 26, 2017     Cause: Lightning     Size: 5,889 acres     Containment: 76%   

Location:  Approximately seven miles east of Prospect, Oregon

Status: Steep terrain and standing snags in the area prevent direct fireline construction in the Red Blanket Creek drainage. Aircraft will continue to monitor and drop water to hold the fire from spreading to the bottom of Red Blanket Creek. The fire grew about 200 acres yesterday by spotting to the east.

Spruce Lake Fire -              Start Date: July 29, 2017     Cause: Lightning     Size: 5,360 acres     Containment: 61%   
Location:  West side of Crater Lake National Park

Status:  Active interior burning of pocket fuels continues, but there is a low probability for the fire to spread. The fire is being actively monitored.

SHERWOOD FIRE (formerly Roseburg Fire) -   Cause: Under investigation     Size: 71 Acres     Containment: 80%       
Location: Approximately six miles west of Diamond Lake near Sherwood Butte.  

Status:  Isolated pockets of heavy dead and down fuels continue to burn in the interior and on steep slopes. Crews are continuing to construct direct line and mop up hot spots. Containment of Sherwood is the operational priority today.

Broken Lookout and Lookout 2 Fires -   Cause:  Lightning     Size: 818 Acres     Containment: 0%     Location: Approximately six miles west of the junction of Highways 62 and 230. 

Status:  Fire continues to back down toward Abbott Creek. Small fires from the neighboring Falcon Complex may merge with the Broken Lookout Fire.  A containment strategy is being developed in conjunction with the Falcon Complex.

  Round Top, Needle, Butte, Tom, Jerry, and Silent Fires  -  Cause: Lightning    Size: Total of 25 acres   Containment: 100%        

Values to be protected: Communities of Red Blanket Creek, Prospect, Union Creek, Diamond Lake, Mazama Village, Rim Village, Park infrastructure, forest service timber sales, old growth forest stands in Northern Spotted Owl habitat, Research Natural Areas, Wild and Scenic Rogue River, sensitive aquatic resources, white bark pine and other sensitive species and habit, visitor experience, unique volcanic ecosystems and landscapes.

Fire Resources:

Fire Crews	Fire Engines	Bulldozers	Water Tenders	Helicopters	Total Personnel
9	9	0	11	5	451

Weather:  Temperatures should cool and moister conditions should develop, with a chance of isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon. Smoke should impact visibility in the afternoon.

Smoke Outlook:  To see smoke visibility in the area, check out the webcams on the Crater Lake National Park website https://www.nps.gov/crla/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm. A full smoke report is posted on the Inciweb website.

Crater Lake National Park Trail Closures:  Pacific Crest Trail from Dutton Creek Trail to North Entrance Road and from Hwy 62 to South Park Boundary; Boundary Springs Trail; Bald Crater Loop Trail; Bert Creek Trail; Lightning Springs Trail; Union Peak Trail, Stuart Falls Trail, Pumice Flat Trail. More information at https://www.nps.gov/crla/planyourvisit

Rogue River-Siskiyou NF Area Closures:  North and south of FSR 6205 from Crater Lake NP boundary west to the Forest Boundary and Park Boundary to Hwy 62. More at https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/rogue-siskiyou/