High Cascades Complex East Zone Fire Update - Friday, Sept. 22, 2017

Complex East Zone Fire Update – Friday, September 22, 2017 – 9:00 a.m.

High Cascades Complex East Zone Fire Information

541.238.7164

info.ncascade@gmail.com

Crater Lake National Park Information

541.238.7058

Summary: Crews were back on the line Thursday, Sept. 21, evaluating and implementing rehab plans for the Spruce Lake, Blanket Creek and North Pelican Fires.  Several excavators arrived at the Incident Command Post on Thursday and will begin work today repairing dozer lines as soil conditions allow. Operational repair pace will continue to increase as weather improves. No fire spread is expected for the next several days but some creeping and smoldering in the sheltered forest stands may occur at lower elevations where heat remained during the storm cycle.

Community Briefing: A community briefing to discuss current fire operations and rehab plans will be held Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. at the Rocky Point Fire Hall (25600 Rocky Point Road, Klamath Falls, Oregon).

North Pelican (3,589 acres, 73% contained) Crews bladed (smoothed) portions of Cold Springs Road and evaluated repair plans for the southwest edge near the wilderness boundary. They will continue cleaning hand and dozer lines for today’s operations. A deck of logs slid off a logging truck at the Junction of Cold Springs Rd and Hwy 140. The firewood is available for the public beginning Saturday with a permit obtained from the Ranger District. Blanket Creek (33,322 acres, 23% contained) Crews started to pull hose on the western perimeter of Blanket Creek and assess hand and dozer lines to determine what type of equipment is required to complete repair work. Crews working the eastern perimeter chipped approximately 2.5 miles of NF road 3282, while crews on the southeast perimeter pulled 3.8 miles of hose. Spruce Lake (15,826 acres and 22% contained) Two hand crews spent the day removing snags and other vegetation from the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) to access and rehab the southern handline from the Forest Service boundary to Copeland Creek.

Dozer Line Repair

Based on current weather and fire behavior, the National Park Service and High Cascades Complex (East) Fire Incident Management team determined the fire no longer poses a threat to Mazama Village. The Level 1 Evacuation Notification for Mazama Village is lifted.

Closures: Forest Managers are reevaluating area closures. For more information visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5503. The West Rim Drive is closed until Friday at 4:00 p.m.  due to construction. All concession facilities and services remain open for visitors to the Park. Motorists and visitors to the area also need to be aware of delays on Highway 230 between Union Creek and the junction with Highway 138 due to road construction.

Quick Facts Incident Summary
Fire Locations	Rogue River-Siskiyou NF-High Cascades Ranger District, Fremont-Winema NF-Klamath Ranger District, Crater Lake National Park
Approximate Acreage	52,737 acres (East Zone Only)
Containment	39%    (East Zone Only)
Start Dates	North Pelican – 08.10.2017 Spruce Lake – 07.29.2017 Blanket Creek – 07.26.2017
Cause	Lightning
Incident Commander	Tim Roide, Great Basin Type 2 Incident Management Team #4
Resources on the Fires	4 hand crews, 2 dozers, 13 engines, 2 helicopters
Total Personnel	354
Online Links
Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5503 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SCOFMPFIREINFO/ Twitter: @SCOFMPFIREINFO Fire Closures: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5503 Smoke Information: http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/