Document text
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 Firefighting near Crater Lake closes park's north entrance ... California woman charged with assault, DUII after crash near Ashland injures children ... Barbershop-style singers help local schools ... Firefighting near Crater Lake closes park's north entrance ... California woman charged with assault, DUII after crash near Ashland injures children ... Barbershop-style singers help local schools ... NATIONAL CREEK FIRE COMPLEX Wildfires close Highway 230, some Diamond Lake campgrounds By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 14, 2015 @ 12:00 pm Updated Aug 14, 2015 at 2:56 PM Some ODOT video of the National Creek complex fires approaching HIghway 230. By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 14, 2015 @ 12:00 pm Updated Aug 14, 2015 at 2:56 PM » RELATED CONTENT • Playing with fire: Stalwarts wait it out at Diamond Lake as flames march closer... » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> After the entire length of Highway 230 was closed late Thursday because of the nearly 5,000-acre National Creek fire complex, Umpqua National Forest officials this afternoon closed a number of trails, roads and other areas in the vicinity of Mount Bailey and Diamond Lake. Oregon Department of Transportation officials said the Crescent fire crossed Highway 230 at milepost 17 Thursday, prompting officials to close the entire road. Highway 230 runs from Highway 62 just north of Union Creek to Highway 138 southeast of Diamond Lake. Travelers from Medford can still access Diamond Lake by cutting through the Crater Lake National Park. Park officials say they are giving 1-hour free passes through the park for those heading to Diamond Lake or beyond to Highway 97. ODOT officials said there is no estimated time as to when the road will reopen. Trail closures inside Crater Lake National Park include the Pacific Crest Trail between the park's north entrance road trailhead, near the Grouse Hill campsite, and the junction of the Lightning Springs Trail about four miles west of Crater Lake. The Boundary Springs, Bald Crater Loop and Bert Creek trails are also closed. Forest Service officials today closed a large portion of the Mount Bailey area west of Diamond Lake and the area south of the lake because of firefighting efforts associated with the National Creek complex. The emergency closure includes portions of Forest Service roads 37, 4795, 3703, and 4786. This area closure includes the Broken Arrow Campground, South Shore Picnic Area, South Diamond Sno-Park, Mt. Thielsen Viewpoint, Hemlock Cabin, and trailheads for Rodley Butte, Mount Bailey and Silent Creek trails. Trails 1451, 1452, 1460 and 1481 to Rodley Butte, Mount Bailey and Silent Creek are also closed. The Diamond Lake area remains under a level 1  evacuation advisory, meaning people at the lake should be prepared to leave if conditions worsen.  The National Creek complex is made up of two fires sparked by lightning. Crews have been fighting to contain both since Aug. 1. Today, a majority of the 4,811 acres reported burned belonged to the 4,692-acre Crescent fire, no part of which has been contained. The smaller National fire, which has 60 percent containment, sits at 119 acres today. There is no estimated date for full containment.  The Crescent fire shot up by 1,800 acres alone on Thursday, spurned on by increased winds and low humidity. Crews were counting on better conditions today.  "The lichen (a plant-like growth that hangs from tree branches) that has been igniting and blowing in the wind, contributing to fire spread, will be less likely to do so today because of the higher humidity levels," an update from the fire incident management team reads. "However, the heavy fuels, like large trees that have been carrying fire, will continue to burn." There are currently 787 personnel from the U.S. Forest Service and National Parks Service working on the fire, assisted by eight helicopters, 28 engines, three dozers and eight water tenders.      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. 14, 2015 @ 12:00 pm Updated Aug 14, 2015 at 2:56 PM » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » 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. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site 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. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501