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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Progress corraling fire prompts reopening of Crater Lake's north entrance ... State reports 21 school districts failed to meet federal Common Core testing targets ... Cement truck rollover closes Lawnsdale Road near Medford airport ... Progress corraling fire prompts reopening of Crater Lake's north entrance ... State reports 21 school districts failed to meet federal Common Core testing targets ... Cement truck rollover closes Lawnsdale Road near Medford airport ... CONTINUING COVERAGE: WILDFIRES Containment on National Creek complex jumps to 25 percent Crews hopeful for additional progress with rain in the forecast Comment By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 26, 2015 at 12:10 PM By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 26, 2015 at 12:10 PM » Social News CRATER LAKE — In a burst of progress, crews have the National Creek fire complex 25 percent contained , an interagency team assigned to the fire reported Wednesday .  The fire had been 10 percent contained for the past two week, records show. The lightning-sparked fire complex has grown to 12,268 acres. A majority of that acreage, about 12,148, belongs to the complex's larger Crescent fire. The smaller National fire has stayed put at 120 acres for several days.  "The Crescent has sort of enveloped that fire," public information officer Jean Goad said . Crews are hopeful a wet forecast will mean that containment percentage will make another jump soon. A special weather statement released by the National Weather Service reported a "major change in the weather pattern" for the region, including the west side valleys.  "The recent run of hot and dry weather will come to an end beginning Friday," the statement reads. "A series of incoming fronts will bring significant precipitation to the west side valleys, the Cascades and the Siskiyous in Southern Oregon and Northern California, beginning Friday evening and continuing into Sunday." The forecast calls for rainfall totals of one-quarter inch to half inch over the lower Umpqua Valley, Illinois Valley, and Siskiyous. The Rogue Valley, upper Umpqua Valley, and Cascades are expected to see one-tenth of an inch up to one-quarter of an inch.  "It will be showery Saturday and amounts will be lighter, generally less than (one-tenth of an inch)," the special statement reads. "Another round of heavier rain will develop Saturday night into Sunday morning. The front won't be as wet as the Friday night system, but rainfall will still be significant."  Meteorologist Brad Schaaf said weather officials are expecting at least a quarter inch to fall over Crater Lake over the weekend. "We are definitely expecting at least periods of rain," Schaaf said. Temperatures are also expected to cool by as much as 10 degrees during the weekend.  Fire crews have dealt with warm temperatures, dry conditions and come-and-go gusty winds the last few days. But firefighters have been able to make progress despite that. Crews have begun mop up one some containment lines following successful burnout operations.  Progress on the fire has prompted officials to lift a temporary hold on new reservations at Diamond Lake and Thielson View campgrounds. A closure remains in effect for Broken Arrow campground. Crater Lake National Park's north entrance also remains closed, as do several trails inside the park and in the Rogue River-Siskiyou and Umpqua national areas near Diamond Lake. Motorists in the area are urged to continue to use caution because of fire equipment and visibility-hindering haze. "Smoke may impair visibility at certain times of the day," a news release from the interagency team reads. "But sunrises and sunsets are spectacular." Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil . By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 26, 2015 at 12:10 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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