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Wildfire At Crater Lake National Park Impacting PCT, Other Trails

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By Kurt Repanshek - August 2nd, 2017

Smoke Column of the Spruce Lake Fire/Richard Parrish, BLM

A wildfire burning near the western border of Crater Lake National Park in Oregon has forced a closure of a section of the Pacific Crest Trail as well as two other trails in the national park.

The Spruce Lake Fire, sparked by lightning, was discovered on July 29. As of Wednesday it was estimated at 1,400 acres. Significant growth was expected as the forecast calls for record-setting temperatures, low relative humidity, and an unstable atmosphere.

Initial attack response included rapellers and additional resources working other fires in the area, according to fire managers.

"Suppression efforts have been hampered by persistent high temperatures, unstable atmospheric conditions and poor access," they added.

The fire, which was being fought by more than 100 firefighters, has displayed extreme behavior, with spotting occurring up to a mile ahead of the main blaze.

Trail closures within Crater Lake National Park include:

  • Pacific Crest Trail from the intersection of Lightning Springs Trail north to Red Cone Camp
  • Bald Crater Loop Trail, from intersection of Pacific Crest Trail to Bert Creek Trail
  • Bert Creek Trail

Comments

Submitted by [email protected] on August 2, 2017 - 9:57pm.

Two years ago, The National Creek Complex Fire had burned at least 15,500 acres -- ca. 25 square miles, within NW Corner of Crater Lake N.P.  largest to date (early Sept. 2015)  later during the autumn of 2015, and currently may "contain to a degree" the 2017 new Spruce Lake Fire.  Old wildland burns typically may serve as containment boundaries to new ignitions creating a landscape mosaic of historic burns and fire effects.  However,  the "New Normal of Fire Behavior" combined with Critical Fire Weather conditions will favor more extreme fire behavior, so, a new fire size record may be in the making and even threatening the USFS's Diamond Lake Resort Facility to the northwest.

http://www.bendbulletin.com/localstate/3480130-151/crater-lake-fire-make...


Submitted by [email protected] on August 3, 2017 - 4:06pm.

Regional wildfire update: Crater Lake fire at 2,425 acres

http://www.heraldandnews.com/news/local_news/regional-wildfire-update-cr...


Submitted by [email protected] on August 5, 2017 - 5:41am.

Wildfire Closes Crater Lake's West Rim Drive
 
http://www.mailtribune.com/news/20170804/wildfire-closes-crater-lakes-we...


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