Fire
The Spruce Lake Fire has nearly reached the rim of Crater Lake in Crater Lake National Park, OR.
Crater Lake is considered the purest body of water on Earth that has no inlet and no outlet. It’s also the deepest lake in North America at nearly 2,000′ deep.
Lightning storms in late July and early August ignited over 40 fires west of Crater Lake. All fires are being managed in full suppression strategy.
“There are currently over 1,000 personnel working the fires in and around Crater Lake National Park. Progress continues to be made on containment. The park remains open.” – Crater Lake National Park, August 15th
Spruce Lake Fire:
Start Date: July 29, 2017 Cause: Lightning Size: 5,035 acres Containment: 55%
Location: West side of Crater Lake National Park
Current Situation: Crews are repairing dozer line on the secured western edge of the fire. The fire is creeping and smoldering in heavy ground litter. Fire activity could increase in the afternoon as sunshine and low humidity dries out vegetation. Fire crews are monitoring for spot fires that occur when winds carry embers outside the burned area as the fire burns east into natural barriers.
Level 1 Evacuation Notice Lifted, West Rim Drive and Rim Trail Open, All Other Trail Closures Remain in Effect
Contact: Fire Information Office, (541)560-3359
Contact: Marsha McCabe, (541)594-3091
CRATER LAKE, OREGON – Cooler temperatures and recent precipitation have slowed fire activity on the Spruce Lake Fire in Crater Lake National Park. As a result, the park was able to reopen West Rim Drive on Friday, August 11, at 12:00 PM, from Rim Village to North Junction. The Rim Trail from Rim Village to North Junction has also reopened. The Level 1 Evacuation Notice for Rim Village and park headquarters has been lifted.Fire operations continue in the area, and visitors may encounter firefighters and see or hear aircraft. Visitors are advised that West Rim Drive is open for through traffic only. No stopping is permitted between Discovery Point and North Junction, except for ongoing road construction in the area.
The following trail closures due to the Spruce Lake and Blanket Creek Fires continue to be in effect until further notice:
- Pacific Crest Trail, from the park boundary to Highway 62 and from the intersection of Dutton Creek Trail north to the North Entrance Road
- Watchman Peak Trail
- Boundary Springs Trail
- All of Bald Crater Loop Trail
- Bert Creek Trail
- Lightning Springs Trail
- Union Peak Trail
- Stuart Falls Trail
- Pumice Flat Trail
We will be monitoring this situation and will reopen these trails as soon as it is safe to do so.
Visitors are not at risk.The closures are due to fire activity from the Spruce Lake Fire on the west side of the park and the Blanket Creek Fire in the southwest corner of the park.All other trails in Crater Lake National Park remain open as well as all park entrances, facilities and services.While the park remains open, smoky conditions persist throughout the area.For more information regarding smoke levels go to http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/.
The Spruce Lake Fire ignited by lightning on July 24, 2017 and is being managed collectively with the Blanket Creek Fire. The fires are being managed with a full suppression strategy.The trail closures are being implemented to reduce threats to public safety associated with fire activity and fire suppression operations.More information on the fires is available at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5450/and https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5431/.
These closures are implemented pursuant to the authority described in Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations 1.5(a)(1), 1.5(b) and 1.5(f). Please contact the Fire Information Office at (541)560-3359 with any questions or for additional information.
