Single Publication

Diamond Complex

• Size: 11,141 acres
• Containment: 81%
• Personnel: 801
• Location: 18 miles SW of Chemult, OR
• Start Date: July 19, 2024
• Cause: Undetermined

Middle Fork Fire

• Size: 5,286 acres
• Containment: 61% 
• Personnel: 51
• Location: Crater Lake National Park
• Start Date: July 17, 2024
• Cause: Undetermined

Ride the Rim, Red Flag Warning and Fire Restrictions

RIDE THE RIM: The North Entrance to Crater Lake National Park will reopen on Saturday, September 7, at 6 a.m. for Ride the Rim. If crews are unable to complete hazardous reduction work related to the Middle Fork Fire on Friday, the North Entrance will close again on Sunday morning so they can resume work.

HWY. 230 ON THE PARK’S NORTHWEST SIDE: Firefighters are using heavy equipment to remove downed and dead wood in this area. Slow down when approaching firefighter activity. 

CLOSED AREAS: Do not enter closed areas or drive around barriers. Entire roadways may not be blocked to allow firefighter traffic. Areas are closed due to dangerous conditions like falling trees, heavy equipment and road grading.

RED FLAG WARNING: A red flag warning, the most elevated fire conditions, is in effect today with a 60% chance of dry thunderstorms. Know where you are and pay attention to fire restrictions. The Umpqua and Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forests and Crater Lake National Park have different fire restrictions in place. Crater Lake National Park has a fire ban whereas the national forests have Level 2 fire restrictions. Follow information posted on their websites.

• Crater Lake National Park: https://www.nps.gov/crla/index.htm
• Umpqua National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/umpqua
• Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/rogue-siskiyou

Current Fire Situation

The Diamond Complex includes 32 fires in the Umpqua National Forest. Thirty are 100% contained meaning firefighters have established a control line around them and are confident they will remain in their current footprints. Crews are checking fires to confirm their status and assess whether suppression repair is needed. An initial attack group is prepared to respond to any new wildfires that may result from today’s predicted thunderstorms. 

Middle Fork Fire

Today crews will continue heavy equipment operations near the park’s North Entrance. They are also cleaning up roads and repairing areas disturbed by suppression activities, especially along Hwy 230. Firefighters will continue securing edges on the fire’s north and east sides and patrolling for hotspots. 

Diamond Complex

• Pine Bench Fire (north of Hwy. 138 near Dry Creek, 3,976 acres, 66% contained): Firefighters continue to patrol for hotspots and complete suppression repair. They finished removing structure protection from the lookout tower. 
• Potter Fire (north of Hwy. 138, 2 miles southeast of Potter Mountain, 3,428 acres, 55% contained): Firefighters continue to construct the primary control line on the southwest corner of the fire. They are still finding heat on the fire’s east side within the Helen Creek drainage and have used helicopters to drop water on hot spots. This heat is well inside the fire’s footprint and is not a containment threat. Crews continue suppression repair on the north side of the fire and are removing unneeded equipment. 

Weather and Fire Behavior        

A red flag warning is in effect today with a 60% chance of dry thunderstorms. Relative humidity will fall into the teens and above normal temperatures will continue. Storms are also possible on Saturday with a 10% chance of wetting rain.

Smoke Outlook

Air quality is expected to be moderate today. Significant smoke may be visible from other incidents in the area, but smoke from the Diamond Complex and Middle Fork Fires is minimal. For more information, visit www.fire.airnow.gov.

Forest Closure and Fire Restrictions

Umpqua National Forest has decreased Public Use Restrictions to Level 2. The forest remains in High Fire Danger and Industrial Fire Precaution Levels are at Level 2. For more information, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/umpqua/alerts-notices/?aid=88996. 

Umpqua National Forest’s current closure order allows access to specific roads, trails and campgrounds, which are listed as exemptions in Forest Order 06-15-24-07. For more information, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/umpqua/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD1202210.

A closure is in place on Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest for the area north and west of Crater Lake National Park along Hwy. 230 south to the intersection with Hwy. 62. The closure order and a map are available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/rogue-siskiyou/alerts-notices.

Park Closure and Fire Restrictions

Crater Lake National Park remains open. However, several closures are in effect. For details, visit  https://www.nps.gov/crla/planyourvisit/conditions.htm.

Know before you go. Check the latest conditions and road status to ensure a smooth, enjoyable visit. Updates are available on the park website at https://www.nps.gov/crla and on Oregon Tripcheck at https://www.tripcheck.com.

PACIFIC CREST TRAIL: The Pacific Crest Trail between the Lightning Springs and Rim Trail Intersections, Bald Crater Loop, Bert Creek and Boundary Springs Trails is 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 while closures are in place.

Temporary flight restrictions (TFRs)

TFRs are in place over the Potter and Pine Bench Fires https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_4_7055.html (9 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time).