Single Publication

Diamond Complex

• Size: 11,141 acres
• Containment: 81%
• Personnel: 794
• Location: 18 miles SW of Chemult, OR
• Start Date: July 19, 2024
• Cause: Undetermined

Middle Fork Fire

• Size: 5,286 acres
• Containment: 62% 
• Personnel: 54
• Location: Crater Lake National Park
• Start Date: July 17, 2024
• Cause: Undetermined

Updates will be distributed every other day. The next update will be Monday, September 9, 2024. InciWeb and Facebook will be updated daily with operational videos, quick facts and any other available information.

Visitor and Firefighter Safety, and Fire Restrictions

The North Entrance to Crater Lake National Park is open. All firefighter work in that area has been completed. 

RIDE THE RIM: Heavy traffic is expected in and around the park. Please keep your eyes on the road and drive carefully.

CLOSED AREAS: Area, road and trail closures remain in place. 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.

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, 30 of which are 100% contained. Cooler temperatures and more moisture in the atmosphere will keep fire behavior minimal. However, fuel moistures are still low, so any new starts have high fire potential. An initial attack group will respond to any new wildfires caused by predicted thunderstorms. Firefighters continue suppression repair work on the contained fires, while also patrolling and mopping up remaining areas of interior heat. All fires are anticipated to stay within current containment lines.

Middle Fork Fire

Crews have completed heavy equipment operations near the park’s North Entrance and the road is now open. Firefighters continue to monitor the fire’s northeast corner and have begun repair work around the perimeter.

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. 
• Potter Fire (north of Hwy. 138, 2 miles southeast of Potter Mountain, 3,428 acres, 55% contained): Crews are moving equipment into the area to construct primary containment line on the fire’s southwest corner. Firefighters continue to patrol and mop up lingering hot spots, especially within the Helen Creek drainage. They have deconstructed hose lays and begun suppression repair.

Weather and Fire Behavior        

Isolated thunderstorms are possible on Saturday with a 10-15% chance of lightning and a high temperature of 80 degrees. Relative humidities will increase for the next few days, keeping conditions above critical levels. Cool and dry conditions are expected on Sunday and Monday.

Smoke Outlook

Air quality will improve during the day, but smoke is expected to move in overnight from nearby fires. 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 is open. However, several trail 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. 

Temporary flight restrictions (TFRs)

TFRs are in place over the Potter and Pine Bench Fires 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time. A map is available at  https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_4_7055.html. Remember, if you fly, we can’t.