Timber Crater 6 Fire update Monday, July 23

Timber Crater 6 Fire Update 

July 23, 2018, 9:00 am

 NW Incident Management Team (IMT) 9, Brian Goff, Incident Commander 

Contact us at: TimberCrater6.2018@gmail.com - Fire Information: 541-238-2084 (GoogleVoice) or 541-291-4158 

Crater Lake National Park, OR – Crews made good progress yesterday and achieved 5% containment. Since NW Incident Management Team 9 arrived on July 20, fire managers’ strategy and crews’ work have focused on stopping the fire progression, using a combination of burnout operations and, when safe, working at the fire’s edge. Yesterday, 522 personnel are working the fire, including 18 crews. An infrared flight mapped the fire at 2010 acres. 

Weather: Weather could be a concern today if thunderstorms materialize. Though there is only a 20% probability, outflow winds associated with thunderstorms can greatly change fire behavior and push the fire into the forest canopy. Today will again be hot and dry, and expected fire behavior includes short-range spotting and group tree torching. Temperatures will be in the high 80s with relative humidity in the teens. 

Yesterday: Hot shot crews on the north and west sides of the fire worked direct along the fire line. Crews mopped up and secured lines after the burnouts to remove fuel in the fire’s path. Other crews did burnout work ahead of the fire’s east side. 

Plans for Today: Crews will continue constructing and securing lines on the fire’s north and west flanks. To the south, crews are scouting lines as needed to stay in front of the fire, including an old road to build line. They will also work to secure the burnout on the east side of the fire. 

Visibility permitting, three helicopters and two fixed-wing aircraft will be used today to make water drops – not retardant drops -- in the park. The CL415s may be scooping from locations at area lakes: Crescent, Lost Creek and Miller Lakes. Recreationists are advised that scooping may occur at any time, and people will be asked to leave the water. 

Smoke: Many fires burning across the Northwest Region are producing smoke that continues to flow into the Crater Lake National Park by prevailing winds. At times, this has resulted in reduced visibility and lower air quality. This pattern will continue until fires to the west of Crater Lake National Park can be extinguished. The Timber Crater 6 Fire and strategic burn operations have generated smoke that has flowed toward Hwy. 97. The majority of the smoke visible in the park is from other fires in the region. A smoke monitor will be installed today near the rim of Crater Lake. 

Closures and Restrictions: At this time the Timber Crater 6 Fire is not a threat to park attractions or to visitors. All areas in the Crater Lake National Park are open. There are no road closures related to the fire in the park. Please respect all park fire restrictions. Campfires are only allowed in designated campfire rings. 

 An Emergency Forest Closure for portions of the Fremont-Winema National Forest remains in effect. The closure order and maps can be viewed at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/fremont-winema/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD588406  Fire managers want park guests to have a fun and safe experience in the Crater Lake National Park. Visitors should expect to see large firefighting apparatus on roadways. Please drive slowly and use extra caution as fire vehicles may stop in unexpected locations, and if backing, the operator of the equipment may not be able to see smaller passenger vehicles in their mirrors.