Fire Terms

Monday, July 29, 2024

7/29/2024 Diamond Complex and Middle Fork Fires Update

 

Diamond Complex and Middle Fork Fires

Daily Update for July 29, 2024

2024.Diamondcomplex@firenet.gov

541-375-0367, 8 am to 8 pm

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The Diamond Complex on the Umpqua National Forest is estimated at 5,188 acres and 7% contained and Middle Fork is 715 acres and 1% contained, within Crater Lake National Park. The park remains open. There are fire personnel in the area, so visitors should use caution when traveling within the park.


Currently there are 27 fires and 610 personnel assigned to the two incidents. Two new starts were spotted yesterday, diverting resources to assess the locations and develop a strategy for containment.


There are a total of 79 miles of fire perimeter in which firefighters are implementing direct and indirect strategies that reduce risk to responders while protecting private residences and values at risk. Pacific Power and Light infrastructure within the complex continue to be a top priority for protection as crews attack fires that pose a threat to those resources.


The Trail fire, east of Hwy 138 on the west slope of Mt. Thielsen, is 826 acres and 25% contained. Crews continue to meet the objective of protecting the resort, infrastructure, and campgrounds along Diamond Lake. Today, firefighters will secure and mop up along the north and south flanks and monitor fire in the wilderness. 


The Lemolo fire, north of Lemolo Lake on Bunker Hill, is 804 acres and 0% contained. Crews have been working to secure detected spot fires on the northeastern corner. Continued mop up will occur along the dozer line where they conducted burning in previous days.  Firefighters have made good progress on the east flank and will continue to secure the dozer line and look for opportunities to implement control lines north of the fire to protect infrastructure and recreational values around Lemolo Lake. Crews will continue prepping indirect line along the western flank to prepare for a tactical burn when conditions allow. Firefighters will work to contain the fire north of the FS 700 road and hold the fire north of FS 2612 road.


The Pine Bench firenorth of Hwy 138 near Dry Creek, is 1,981 acres and 0% contained. The Prineville Hotshots completed a successful burn out operation along the FS 4775 road which was tied back into the Wilderness. Crews monitored the burn throughout the day and mopped up one new spot where the fire crossed the containment line. Firefighters will prep the boundary of the wilderness for future burnout operations.


The Rough fire, two miles south of Hwy 138, is 11 acres and 0% contained. Firefighters repelled from a helicopter into the fire to establish hand line and assess for other needs prior to the warming and drying trend expected later this week.


Both the Watson fire, 232 acres and 50% contained and Loafer fire, 34 acres and 50% contained are in mop up.


There are smaller clusters of fires within the complex that consist of: Pig Iron, 27 acres and 95% contained, near Pig Iron Mountain north of Hwy 138; Brodie, 116 acres and 0% contained, about 5 miles south of Hwy 138 and south of Devils Canyon; Trep, 129 acres and 0% contained, about 4 miles south of Hwy 138; Garwood, 5 acres and 95% contained, about 3 miles southwest of Mt. Bailey; Slide, 0.1 acres and 95% contained, northeast of Pine Bench; Potter, 690 acres and 0% contained, north of Hwy 138 about 2 miles southeast of Potter Mountain; Ooya, 186 acres and 0% contained, north of Hwy 138 about 1 mile northeast of Bird Point; Clearwater, 0.7 acre and 100% contained, south of Hwy 138 about 5 miles northwest of Diamond Lake; Elephant, 0.7 acres and 95% contained, 2 miles southwest of Lemolo Lake; Lost Bear, 0.1 acres and 0% contained, 2 miles south of Hwy 138; Lost, 22 acres and 0% contained, 4 miles south of Hwy 138;  Sheep, 0.3 acres and 95% contained, 3 miles north of Diamond Lake; Thin, 0.6  acre and 90% contained, four miles northwest of Diamond Lake; Trap, 13 acres and 0% contained, 1 mile south of Hwy 138 near Trap Mountain; Bear Trap, 64 acres and 10% contained, 2 miles south of Hwy 138 near Bear Trap Mountain; Campwood, 19 acres and 0% contained, 2 miles south of Hwy 138; Birds, 0.1 acres and 100% contained; Wood, 23 acres and 0% contains, 2 miles south of Hwy 138, Mowich, 0.4 acre and 75% contained, 1 mile north of Hwy 138, Toolbox, 0.1 acres and 0% contained, and Canal, 1 acre and 0% contained.


The Middle Fork fire is located in the northwest corner of Crater Lake National Park. Crews completed a hand line along the western flank and will continue to improve this line today by removing snags. Firefighters will create a fuel break east from the Bert Creek Trail and west from the North Entrance Road to the Junction of the Bald Crater Loop Trail.  


Weather: Temperatures in the mid 70’s with increased relative humidity is forecast for today. Ridgetops will see increased winds in the range of 20-26 mph but fire severity should remain moderate. As the day progresses, cloud cover will increase with the possibility of light rain tomorrow evening.


Fire Behavior: Fires will likely be active in the afternoon with backing, flanking, and short uphill runs through surface fuels. Single and group torching is possible mostly on south slopes. As smoke and cloud cover changes throughout the day, fire behavior will change.


Smoke Outlook: Smoke will remain the area and may reduce visibility and hinder air operations.  For the most up to date information, please visit www.fire.airnow.gov


Closures and Evacuations: Umpqua National Forest has issued two closures across the forest in response to fire activity to protect public and wildland firefighter safety. Emergency Fire Closure ORDER NO. 06-15-24-03 and Emergency Fire Closure ORDER NO. 06-15-02-24-01 impact all of the Cottage Grove Ranger District, most of the Diamond Lake Ranger District, and parts of the Tiller and North Umpqua Ranger Districts. The closure orders can be found here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/umpqua/alerts-notices. Fire danger is set at Very High and Public Use Restrictions are set at Level 2: https://bit.ly/3xIZZdK.


The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office has downgraded the evacuation order for the Trail fire from a Level 2: BE SET  to a Level  1: Get Ready, but the Level 3: GO NOW remains in effect for the Trail fire east of Hwy 138. The Level 2: BE SET and Level 3: GO NOW evacuations for the Lemolo fire remain in place. There is still a Level 2: BE SET for the Pine Bench Fire. For more information visit the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office website: www.dcso.com/evacuations.  


Daily Update for the Diamond Complex and Middle Fork fires for July 29

Public information map of the Diamond Complex and Middle Fork fires for July 29

Smoke Outlook for Southern Oregon for July 29

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