Monday, August 28, 2017

8/28/2017 High Cascades Complex

High Cascades Complex
8/28/2017 9:00 a.m.
Fire Information: (541) 316-8352


            @R6RRSNF and @SCOFMPFireInfo         R6RRSNF and SCOFMPFireInfo                  

Hotter, drier weather prompted more active fire behavior Sunday, with visible smoke columns and higher intensity burning on several fires within the High Cascades Complex. The Blanket Creek and Broken Lookout fires each grew approximately 1,000 acres.

A Level 1 Evacuation Notification has been issued for Mazama Village in Crater Lake National Park as the Blanket Creek Fire continues moving toward Hwy. 62. This is the first step in the “Be Ready, Be Set, Go!” system. A Level 1 notification means park visitors and residents should be aware they could be asked to leave the area and “Be Ready” to do so. For more information about evacuation levels and procedures, go to http://tinyurl.com/BeReady-BeSet-Go

The Broken Lookout and Lookout 2 fires merged and are expected to encompass the Windy Gap fire soon. Northwest Incident Management Team 7 is actively managing suppression of these fires as well as the Paradise, Pup, Blanket Creek and Spruce Lake fires, which are located on parts of Crater Lake National Park and the Umpqua, Rogue River-Siskiyou and Fremont-Winema National Forests. 

As a result of these fires, a number of area, road and trail closures are in place within the park and national forests. For specific closure information, visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5503. Closures are enacted for public and firefighter safety.

Temperatures are expected to be slightly lower today, but still higher than normal. A drop in humidity will increase fire activity in the afternoon.  Additional fire spread is expected.

Yesterday’s Activity:  The Blanket Creek Fire (9,299 acres) continued spreading eastward into the 2008 Middle Fork burn scar within Sky Lakes Wilderness and Crater Lake National Park. Ground crews prepped defensible space and contingency lines around Mazama Village and along Hwy. 62. The Spruce Lake Fire (5,625 acres) had more active burning within the interior but only grew 250 acres. 

Crews continued to prep Forest Road 68 to head off the Broken Lookout (3,134 acres) and Windy Gap (153 acres) fires. Heavy smoke on the Pup Fire (201 acres) forced ground crews to withdraw, while aircraft continued to drop water on the leading edge of the fire. The Paradise Fire (421 acres) had minimal fire activity. The Sherwood Fire (77 acres) was completely contained and shifted to a patrol status.

Today’s Planned Activity:  Flaggers will be directing traffic along Hwy. 62 within Crater Lake National Park today as crews continue prepping indirect fire lines on the Blanket Creek Fire. Indirect line construction associated with the Broken Lookout and Windy Gap Fires will also continue along Forest Road 68. Crews will resume building handlines around the Pup Fire. The Spruce Lake Fire will be monitored. Helicopters, scooper aircraft and air tankers will be available to assist ground crews by slowing the progression of the leading edges of the fires.  Helicopters assigned to the High Cascades Complex may also be diverted to support other fires as needed.

Smoke Outlook and Closure Information: A full smoke forecast and detailed information about the area, road and trail closures associated with the fires on the High Cascades Complex can be viewed at: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5503 
To check visibility at Crater Lake National Park, check out the webcams at https://www.nps.gov/crla/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm.  
High Cascades Complex Fire Information
541-316-8352 
BlanketCreekFireInfo@gmail.com

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