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Yesterday about .10 inches of rain fell across the fire area and helped firefighters establish containment line on the most critical fires. Weather prevented the usual overnight infrared mapping flight, so no acreage update is available. The Diamond Complex on the Umpqua National Forest is estimated at 6,134 acres and 11% contained, with 475 people assigned. Resources are shared with the Middle Fork fire.  The Middle Fork fire within Crater Lake National Park is estimated at 1,938 acres and 1% contained, with 24 people assigned with additional shared resources from the Diamond Complex as needed. The park remains open. 

The Umpqua National Forest increased Public Use Restrictions to Level 3 across all ranger districts of the forest in response to the drying conditions and increased fire activity. More information can be found at bit.ly/3xIZZdK. Broken Arrow, Diamond Lake, and Thielsen View Campgrounds are open and taking reservations through www.recreation.gov   

A very active fire season in the Pacific Northwest and across the nation means that firefighting resources are stretched thin. Firefighting is prioritized to attack the fires that are most threatening to critical values at risk. The highest priorities for protection are those fires that threaten life, property, transportation, hydropower infrastructure and developed recreation areas. 

The Trail fire, east of Hwy 138 on the west slope of Mt. Thielsen, is 839 acres and 40% contained. The fire will be patrolled from the air and firefighters will respond as needed. 

The Lemolo fire, north of Lemolo Lake on Bunker Hill, is 873 acres and 10% contained. Yesterday's rain made strategic firing operations ineffective. This work will resume today to remove a few relatively small pockets of unburned fuel between the fire and the Lemolo Lake Road.   

The Pine Bench fire, north of Hwy 138 near Dry Creek, is 2,117 acres and 10% contained. Crews continue to hold and mop up along the FS 4775 Road and patrol the 900 Road and Hwy 138, and build indirect contingency fire line by opening and brushing roads to the east and north of the fire, to be used if the fire were to move out of the Boulder Creek Wilderness. Today firefighters will use helicopters to drop water on several spot fires detected west of Boulder Creek in the Wilderness.  

Crews on both the Watson fire, 236 acres and 50% contained, and Loafer fire, 37 acres and 50% contained, will continue their successful containment and mop up on these fires. 

Bear Trap, 64 acres and 50% contained, 2 miles south of Hwy 138 near Bear Trap Mountain now has a control line around the entire fire and crews are mopping up. 

Ooya, 190 acres and 0% contained, north of Hwy 138 about 1 mile northeast of Bird Point. Work continues to remove hazardous snags (standing dead trees) to establish safe access to begin active work on the fire. There is significant power infrastructure to the south of this fire, making it a high priority.  

Potter, 747 acres and 0% contained, north of Hwy 138 about 2 miles southeast of Potter Mountain. Crews are clearing fuels from around trestles to protect critical hydropower infrastructure below the fire. 

Brodie, 121 acres and 0% contained, about 5 miles south of Hwy 138 and south of Devils Canyon. Today this fire is unstaffed, to provide resources for suppression of the Middle Fork fire. 

Trep, 133 acres and 0% contained, about 4 miles south of Hwy 138. Crews completed a dozer line across the north flank of the Trep fire. 

Other fires within the complex consist of:  Pig Iron near Pig Iron Mountain north of Hwy 138, is 27 acres and 95% contained;  Rough, 11 acres and 25% contained,  Garwood, 5 acres and 95% contained, about 3 miles southwest of Mt. Bailey; Slide, 0.1 acres and 95% contained, northeast of Pine Bench;; 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;   Sheep, 0.3 acres and 95% contained, 3 miles north of Diamond Lake; Thin, 0.6  acre and 95% contained, four miles northwest of Diamond Lake; Trap, 15 acres and 0% contained, 1 mile south of Hwy 138 near Trap Mountain; Campwood, 20 acres and 25% contained, 2 miles south of Hwy 138;  Birds, 0.1 acres and 100% contained; Wood, 23 acres and 25% contained, 2 miles south of Hwy 138, Mowich, 0.4 acre and 95% contained, 1 mile north of Hwy 138,  Toolbox, 0.1 acres and 95% contained, Dog, 0.1 acres and 100% contained; and Canal, 1 acre and 75% contained. 

The Middle Fork fire is in the northwest corner of Crater Lake National Park. A night shift was added, and fire fighters are working around the clock. Firefighters have opened up old fire lines built to contain the 2015 National Creek Complex fires.  This fire line will be used to stop the fire’s northward spread and confine it within the park. The Pacific Crest Trail from the Dutton Ridge Intersection to Hwy 138, Lightning Springs, Bald Crater Loop, Bert Creek and Boundary Springs Trails (within the park) are closed.    

Weather and Fire Behavior:  Today will see a warming and drying trend, with temperatures up 15 to 20 degrees and humidity in the 20-30% range. Fuels will return to a dry flammable condition over the next week with a significant warming and drying trend. 

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

Fire prevention: The moderating effect of the recent rain will not last long. There is a lot of fire season still ahead. Don’t park in dry grass, and make sure tow chains do not drag. Please be mindful of campfire restrictions and appropriate use of liquid fuel stoves.  

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: www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/umpqua/alerts-notices. Fire danger is set at Very High and Public Use Restrictions are set at Level 3: 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