Single Publication

Our primary mission on the Diamond Complex and Middle Fork Fire is to serve the public with dedication and compassion. With your safety and the safety of our firefighters in mind, we are committed to addressing the needs and concerns of your communities by managing and controlling the fires to keep your forests, parks, and natural areas safe and enjoyable. Using safe and aggressive firefighting suppression methods our goal is to help you return to enjoying the outdoors.

The Diamond Complex in the Umpqua National Forest consists of 30 lightning-caused fires totaling approximately 11,106 acres and is 53% contained. Twenty-four of the original 30 fires in the Diamond Complex are now 100 percent contained. 

The Middle Fork Fire in the northwest corner of Crater Lake National Park is 5,244 acres and is 0% contained. The fire is primarily burning within the 2015 National Creek and 2017 Spruce Lake fire scars. Throughout the fire area there is an extreme hazard to firefighters due to falling dead standing trees remaining from the 2015 and 2017 fires.

Rains in the area during the next several days will require firefighters to adapt to changing conditions and potential safety issues caused by heavy rains and lightning. In areas where firefighters can continue to access the fires the rains are expected to moderate fire activity and allow for more direct firefighting tactics. Initial Attack firefighters are also standing by to respond to new fires caused by lightning strikes as needed.

OPERATIONS:

Middle Fork Fire: (5,244 acres, 0% contained):

Crews are removing heavy timber and vegetation along the 230 Road and at the north entrance to Crater Lake National Park. On the southern side and along the Bald Crater Trail, crews are improving firelines and looking for additional opportunities to safely engage the fire directly. The park remains open.

Diamond Complex Fires:

Pine Bench Fire (North of Hwy 138 near Dry Creek, 3,943 acres, 36% contained):

Hand crews and dozers are working in the lower portion of the fire reinforcing control lines and extinguishing hot spots along the East and West edges of the fire. Fire activity along the southern edge of the fire has been significantly reduced. The fire is being monitored in the Wilderness where little smoke is being observed.

Potter Fire (North of Hwy 138, two miles southeast of Potter Mountain, 3,416 acres, 6% contained):

Crews continue to build dozer lines and hand lines on the east side of the fire into Nancy Creek in the east. On the north side, Hot Shots and Dozer operations are working through steep and dangerous terrain while facing extreme hazards from falling trees. On the west side of the fire, crews are continuing to build fireline along the 2154 Road.

Trep Fire (About four miles south of Hwy 138, 545 acres, 0% contained):

Firefighters are working to extinguish hot spots, reinforce control line as needed and hold the fire west of Bear Creek Drainage.

Other fires within the Diamond Complex:

Ooya Fire (North of Hwy 138, one mile northeast of Bird Point, 374 acres, 85% contained): Crews, including National Guard units, are conducting patrols and extinguishing hot spots.

Trail Fire (East of Hwy 138 on the west slope of Mt. Thielsen, 842 acres, 100% contained): Crews will continue to extinguish hot spots and ensure firelines continue to effectively prevent further spread.

Loafer Fire (44 acres, 56% contained)

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR:

Temperatures will be near or slightly below normal and minimum relative humidity values will be around 40 percent. Rain is predicted across the area, but with uneven amounts of wetting rain affecting the various fires. Winds will be from the west at 5 to 10 mph, occasionally gusting to 15 mph. We can expect moderate burning conditions today.

SMOKE OUTLOOK:

For the most up to date information, please visit fire.airnow.gov/

EVACUATIONS:

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office has lifted evacuation orders for all areas except for east of the Pine Bench Fire, which remains at a Level 1: BE SET for a single residence east of the Potter Fire. For an interactive map of evacuations, visit the Douglas Co. Sheriff’s Office website: www.dcso.com/evacuations

FOREST CLOSURE:

On August 21, 2024 the Forest reduced the temporary closure order, allowing increased access to specific roads, trails, and campgrounds that are listed as exemptions in Forest Order 06-15-24-06. For more information visit the Umpqua National Forest website at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/umpqua/alerts-notices/?aid=88996

The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest has issued a closure for the area north and west of Crater Lake National Forest along Highway 230 south to the intersection with Highway 62. See the Closure Order and map at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/rogue-siskiyou/alerts-notices.

PARK CLOSURE:

The North Entrance Road is closed from North Junction to the park boundary at the junction with Highway 138. This closure is necessary to ensure the safety of fire crews and the public. The date for reopening is not known at this time. All other park roads will remain open, except for construction closures on East Rim Drive. Crater Lake National Park remains open and is accessible from Highway 62 on the western and southern routes.

Crater Lake National Park has several closures in effect, closure orders and maps can be found at: 

https://www.nps.gov/crla/learn/news/temporary-closure-of-north-entrance-road-continues.htm

REMINDER: The Pacific Crest Trail between the Lightning Springs and Rim Trail Intersections, Bald Crater Loop, Bert Creek and Boundary Springs Trails are closed until further notice due to potentially hazardous conditions created by the Middle Fork Fire. Hikers and bikers may not use the North Entrance Road to enter or leave Crater Lake National Park.