Single Publication

Current Situation: Due to favorable weather yesterday, fire personnel made good progress on fire-suppression repair work throughout the incident. Cooler but mostly dry conditions are expected today, which will again allow crews to continue their operations. With little to no heat or smoke detected on any of the fires, suppression repair has become the main priority of the incident. This involves a series of post-fire actions that repairs damage caused by fire-suppression efforts and will minimize potential soil erosion and downstream impacts. 

Diamond Complex: The Diamond Complex includes 33 fires in the Umpqua National Forest, 31 of which are 100% contained. Hand crews will continue the task of repairing containment lines while excavators are working to repair dozer lines and install water bars in areas used as control and contingency lines. Road graders and other equipment are working together to grade forest roads and repair culverts to allow for appropriate drainage. 

The remaining two fires that are not fully contained are the Pine Bench Fire (3,976 acres, 66% contained) and the Potter Fire (3,428 acres, 76% contained). Reconnaissance flights over both fires revealed some logs producing smoke in the interior of the fire perimeter. Crews assigned to these fires are patrolling the remaining sections of uncontained fireline to ensure containment lines hold. Crews are also removing unneeded equipment and starting repair in controlled portions of these fires.

Middle Fork Fire: Crews have completed all suppression repair operations along the Pacific Crest Trail and east of Route 230 in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. Due to these efforts, as of 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 14, 2024, the Rogue-River Siskiyou National Forest rescinded the Middle Fork Fire Emergency Area & Road Closure. The fire perimeter continues to hold with no new growth. Reconnaissance flights over the fire area revealed no significant heat sources or visible smoke. With the difficult terrain and hazardous condition of standing-dead trees, direct control lines could not be installed around the entire fire perimeter. Due to the lack of fire growth and recent wet weather, the Middle Fork Fire will be unstaffed and patrolled by Crater Lake National Park staff. 

Closures: Umpqua National Forest lands, roads, and trails around the Diamond Complex fires are temporarily closed (with several exemptions) under Forest Order 06-15-24-07. You are responsible for knowing where you are in relation to the closed areas, so be prepared and view the order and map prior to recreating on your public lands. Crater Lake National Park is open; however, three trail closures are in effect.

Fire Restrictions: On the Umpqua National Forest, fire danger is set at High and Public Use Restrictions Level 2 are in effect. Campfires must be in Forest Service constructed fire rings or fireplaces in designated sites and are not allowed in dispersed sites or in wilderness areas.

Diamond Complex (Umpqua National Forest)                          

Size: 11,141 acres                                                                     

Containment: 86%                                                                

Personnel: 442                                                                                         

Resources: 5 crews | 1 helicopter | 12 engines | 4 dozers | 15 water tenders | 3 masticators | 1 skidsteer | 11 excavators

Middle Fork Fire (Crater Lake National Park)

Size: 5,286 acres      

Containment: 70%      

Personnel: 0 

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Next update to be released 9-17-2024