Crater Lake fire 73 percent contained; Rim Drive reopens

Amid progress on the lines of the Bybee Creek Fire, Crater Lake National Park lifted the Level 1 evacuation notice for Rim Village and Park Headquarters on Sunday morning for the first time in a week.

Also, the entire length of the Pacific Crest Trail within the park, including the alternate route along the Rim Trail, has reopened. The Lightning Springs Trail and camp will remain closed until further notice.

West Rim Drive reopened Monday from the intersection of Munson Valley Road and West Rim Drive (near Rim Village) to North Junction.

The evacuation notice and closures were issued because of hazardous conditions related to the Bybee Creek Fire. Since successful firing operations on the north flank of the fire on Thursday , the fire grown to 1,072 acres but was 73 percent contained by the nearly 400 firefighters by Monday morning

Recent weather has tested the lines, and with stable weather predicted the next few days, fire managers have determined there is no imminent threat to Rim Village. Firefighters assigned to structure protection there have been released.

Visitors are advised that fire operations continue in the area, and they may encounter firefighters and see or hear aircraft. Smoke may also be visible from the road or trails as unburned pockets of vegetation continue to smolder.

The Bybee Creek Fire was likely a human caused fire. The park implemented Stage 1 Fire Restrictions on July 31 because of high risk of fire danger. Backcountry campfires are prohibited at this time. For more information visit: http://bit.ly/2b8gNfz .

In Eastern Oregon, the Rail Fire southwest of Unity has grown to 10,040 acres and is just 10 percent contained, despite the efforts of 621 firefighters.

All facilities within Crater Lake National Park are open. Smoke in the park has been intermittent depending on weather conditions. Viewing conditions can vary throughout the day and range from hazy to clear. Please visit Crater Lake’s website, www.nps.gov/crla , or Facebook for updated information or to view real time conditions from the park’s webcams.

Closer to home, Central Oregon firefighters picked up 21 starts from Friday’s storm, but rain helped keep all but one below an acre, dispatchers said. Many hit areas southeast and east of Bend.

The largest blaze, Incident 435, burned about five acres 12 miles southwest of Dayville, on the Ochoco National Forest. “Great progress” was reported Saturday afternoon, as air resources stopped the forward progress and a hotshot crew engaged the blaze directly.

In south-central Oregon’s Klamath and Lake counties, crews contained 26 confirmed fires, but were still mopping up on a few. All were less than a quarter-acre, except for the Penny Fire, contained Friday night at seven acres on the Fremont-Winema National Forest’s Bly Ranger District. More fires are expected to be spotted as conditions dry out and warm up in coming days.

To the east, the lightning also sparked five new fires on the BLM’s Vale District, three still being fought late Saturday. The largest was the Estrada Fire, at 105 acres near Weatherby in steep, inaccessible terrain. Favorable winds and precipitation helped crews keep the fire from growing.

On the Willamette National Forest, the Blue Top Fire 12 miles northeast of McKenzie Bridge had grown to 58 acres but also 80 percent contained. Full containment is expected Monday, but the McKenzie River Trail and Blue Pool area will remain closed until weakened trees and other fire hazards are removed and damaged slopes are repaired.

One of last week’s two major Eastern Oregon fires, the Weigh Station Fire, has burned 688 acres but is 95 percent contained, according to Monday morning figures. Fewer than 50 people remain on the lines. The Rail Fire, southwest of Unity, has burned 10,482 acres and is at 10 percent containment by 740 personnel.

Get updates on the larger fires at Oregon’s InciWeb page: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/state/38/