{{Short description|Series of forest fires in Oregon}} {{Use American English|date=May 2025}} {{Update|date=December 2017}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox wildfire | title = High Cascades Complex |partof=the [[2017 Oregon wildfires]] | image = 2017 08 16-15.10.51.440-CDT.jpg | caption = Blanket Creek Fire on August 14, 2017 | cost = | injuries = | fatalities = | reference =<ref name=InciWeb>{{cite web|title=High Cascades Complex|url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5503/|website=High Cascades Complex|publisher=U.S. Forest Service|accessdate=6 September 2017|archive-date=5 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905004837/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5503|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="IW96"/> <!-- ONLY FOR INDIVIDUAL FIRES --> | date = {{Start date|2017|7|26}} – | location = [[Crater Lake National Park]], [[Rogue River – Siskiyou National Forest]], [[Umpqua National Forest]], [[Fremont–Winema National Forest]] in [[Oregon]], [[United States]] | coordinates = {{coord|42.935|-122.407|display=inline,title}} | pushpin_map = USA Oregon | pushpin_map_caption = Location of fire in Oregon. | area = {{Convert|72309|acre|km2|0}} | buildings = 1 | cause = Lightning | landuse = | perps = | motive = }} The '''High Cascades Complex''' was a group of 20 fires burning in four protected areas in [[Oregon]], in the [[United States]], specifically: [[Crater Lake National Park]], [[Rogue River – Siskiyou National Forest]], [[Umpqua National Forest]], and [[Fremont–Winema National Forest]]. The first fire in the complex, the '''Blanket Creek Fire''', was started by a [[lightning strike]] on July 29, 2017. In total, the fires have burned {{Convert|72309|acre|km2|0}} and are 28% contained. The fires are directly impacting the communities of [[Prospect, Oregon|Prospect]], [[Union Creek, Oregon|Union Creek]] and [[Diamond Lake, Oregon|Diamond Lake]], park headquarters, old growth forests that house endangered species like the [[spotted owl]] and volcanic features.

==Events== The first fire, the Blanket Creek Fire, was started on July 26 by a [[lightning strike]] in the [[Rogue River – Siskiyou National Forest]]. Upon examination on August 14, the Blanket Creek Fire had grown to {{Convert|5223|acre|km2|0}}, burning approximately seven miles east of [[Prospect, Oregon]]. Water from [[Lost Creek Lake]] was used to help cull the fire. On July 29, the '''Spruce Lake Fire''', triggered by a lightning strike, started on the west side of [[Crater Lake National Park]], totaling {{Convert|4885|acre|km2|0}} by August 14. Over the course of the next few weeks, into August, more fires started due to lightning strikes, including the '''Broken Lookout Fire''', '''Round Top and Needle Fires''', and '''Butte and Silent Fires''', all {{Convert|25|acre|km2|0}} or smaller as of August 14. At this time, sections of the [[Pacific Crest Trail]], among other Crater Lake National Park trails, were closed.<ref name="IW814">{{cite web|title=High Cascades Complex Update August 14, 2017|url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/38095/|website=InciWeb|publisher=US Forest Service|access-date=September 6, 2017|archive-date=September 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907034250/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/38095/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On August 15, incident meteorologists released [[weather balloon]]s to examine current and upcoming weather conditions.<ref name="IWBalloon">{{cite web|title=Weather Balloons Help Predict Conditions on Wildland Fires|url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/38189/|website=InciWeb|publisher=US Forest Service|access-date=September 6, 2017|archive-date=September 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907034317/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/38189/|url-status=dead}}</ref> That day, another fire started, the '''Sherwood Fire''' (formerly known as the '''Roseburg Fire'''), burning just west of [[Diamond Lake, Oregon|Diamond Lake]]. However, the Round Top and Needle Fires and Butte and Silent Fires had both been 100% contained.<ref name="IW816">{{cite web|title=High Cascades Complex Update August 16, 2017|url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/38222/|website=InciWeb|publisher=US Forest Service|access-date=September 6, 2017|archive-date=September 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907033927/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/38222/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The following day, August 16, 150 [[Oregon National Guard]] members arrived to provide support.<ref name="IW817">{{cite web|title=High Cascades Complex Update August 17, 2017|url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/38305/|website=InciWeb|publisher=US Forest Service|access-date=September 6, 2017|archive-date=September 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907034315/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/38305/|url-status=dead}}</ref> By August 23, the Blanket Fire, burning at {{Convert|5889|acre|km2|0}}, had jumped the Pacific Crest Trail into the [[Sky Lakes Wilderness]]. Spruce Lake Fire remained at 61% containment, Sherwood Fire at 80% containment and Broken Lookout Fire was at zero containment.<ref name="IW823">{{cite web|title=High Cascades Complex Daily Fire Update August 23, 2017|url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/38832/|website=InciWeb|publisher=US Forest Service|access-date=September 6, 2017|archive-date=September 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907034225/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/38832/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

By August 25, fire crews expressed concern about hunters and [[huckleberry]] pickers in the area and areas of the Fremont-Winema National Forest were closed, including roads and trails.<ref name="IW825">{{cite web|title=High Cascades Complex Update, August 25 2017|url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/38980/|website=InciWeb|publisher=US Forest Service|access-date=September 6, 2017|archive-date=September 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907034206/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/38980/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The next day, three more fires were added to the High Cascades Complex: '''Paradise Fire''', '''Pup Fire''' and '''Windy Gap Fire'''. Additionally, the Blanket Fire jumped to {{Convert|8176|acre|km2|0}}.<ref name="IW827">{{cite web|title=High Cascades Complex Update August 27, 2017|url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/39157/|website=InciWeb|publisher=US Forest Service|access-date=September 6, 2017|archive-date=September 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907033134/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/39157/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Additionally, on August 26, Umpqua National Forest announced road and trail closures.<ref name="IWClose3">{{cite web|title=Umpqua NF Road Trail Area & Recreation Site Closure Order #06-15-00-17-377|url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/39106/|website=InciWeb|publisher=US Forest Service|access-date=September 6, 2017|archive-date=September 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907033700/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/39106/|url-status=dead}}</ref> On August 27, the Sherwood Fire was 100% contained.<ref name="IW828">{{cite web|title=High Cascades Update for August 28, 2017|url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/39249/|website=InciWeb|publisher=US Forest Service|access-date=September 6, 2017|archive-date=September 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907034115/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/39249/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:High Cascades Complex Fire - Social 2.jpg|right|thumb|Smoke from the Blanket Creek Fire on September 1, 2017]]

The Blanket Fire grew dramatically over the course of the next few weeks, totaling {{Convert|11895|acre|km2|0}} by August 30. Crews created a defensible space around the Crater Lake National Park village of Mazama, to protect park buildings.<ref name="IW830">{{cite web|title=High Cascades Update for August 30, 2017|url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/39450/|website=InciWeb|publisher=US Forest Service|accessdate=6 September 2017|archive-date=September 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907033402/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/39450/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The next day, additional areas of the Rogue-River Siskiyou National Forest were closed and as of September 1, additional closures were in place for Fremont-Winema National Forest, including [[Sky Lakes Wilderness]].<ref name="IW831">{{cite web|title=High Cascades Complex - August 31, 2017|url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/39535/|website=InciWeb|publisher=US Forest Service|accessdate=6 September 2017|archive-date=September 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907034118/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/39535/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="IW92">{{cite web|title=High Cascades Complex Update, September 2, 2017|url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/39757/|website=InciWeb|publisher=US Forest Service|accessdate=6 September 2017|archive-date=September 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907033513/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/39757/|url-status=dead}}</ref> On September 5, the north entrance to Crater Lake National Park was closed to allow fire crews access to the Spruce Lake Fire and all access to [[Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness]] was halted.<ref name="IWClose5"/><ref name="IW96">{{cite web|title=High Cascades Complex Update Sept. 6 A.M|url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/40222/|website=InciWeb|publisher=US Forest Service|accessdate=6 September 2017|archive-date=September 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907075237/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/40222/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:High Cascades Complex, Landsat 8, bands 758, 27 October 2017.tif|thumb|High Cascades Complex, Landsat 8, bands 758, false color infrared image, acquired October 27, 2017, data source https://earthexplorer.usgs.gov/]]

By September 9, the fires were split into two zones: the West Zone comprising the Broken Lookout and Pup Fire and the East Zone comprising the Spruce Lake, Blanket Creek, and North Pelican Fires.<ref name="IW99">{{cite web|title=High Cascades Update September 9, 2017|url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/40491/|website=InciWeb|publisher=US Forest Service|accessdate=9 September 2017|archive-date=September 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909234216/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/40491/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Resources were put into protecting the community of [[Union Creek, Oregon|Union Creek]] from the Broken Lookout Fire.<ref name="IW910">{{cite web|title=High Cascades Complex West Zone update Sept. 10|url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/40590/|website=InciWeb|publisher=Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, U.S. Forest Service|accessdate=10 September 2017|archive-date=September 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910221213/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/40590/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

As of September 11, the complex had burned a total of {{Convert|70654|acre|km2|0}}.<ref name=InciWeb/> The east zone, comprising the Blanket Creek Fire, Spruce Lake Fire, and North Pelican Fire, is 20% contained and has burned {{Convert|48411|acre|km2|0}}.<ref name="IW910E">{{cite web|title=High Cascades Complex West Zone update Sept. 10|url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/40590/|website=InciWeb|publisher=Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, U.S. Forest Service|accessdate=11 September 2017|archive-date=September 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910221213/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/40590/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The east zone had little activity by the next day, with protection strategies successfully protecting Hershberger Lookout from the Pup Fire and continued monitoring taking place regarding the Broken Lookout Fire's movement towards Union Creek.<ref name="IW910W">{{cite web|title=High Cascades Complex West Zone update Sept. 10|url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/40590/|website=InciWeb|accessdate=11 September 2017|archive-date=September 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910221213/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/40590/|url-status=dead}}</ref> By the end of the day, a new fire had started at the southern border of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest and crews were moved to fight the new start, leaving the Broken Lookout and Pup Fires to be handled by aerial resources.<ref name="IW912">{{cite web|title=High Cascades Complex West Zone update for Sept. 12|url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/40804/|website=InciWeb|publisher=Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, U.S. Forest Service|accessdate=12 September 2017|archive-date=September 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913044541/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/40804/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Closures and evacuations== [[File:2017 08 14-15.59.11.338-CDT.jpg|thumb|A community meeting held by park staff in [[Diamond Lake, Oregon]]]] As of September 6, specific areas of Crater Lake National Park are closed, including the north entrance, to allow fire operations for the Spruce Lake Fire.<ref name="IWClose5">{{cite web|title=North Entrance of Crater Lake Closes Temporarily for Fire Operations|url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/40120/|website=InciWeb|publisher=US Forest Service|accessdate=6 September 2017|archive-date=September 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907033702/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/40120/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Additionally, the Pacific Crest Trail from Dutton Creek Trail to North Entrance Road and from [[Oregon Route 62]] to South Park Boundary, as well as Boundary Springs Trail; Bald Crater Loop Trail; Bert Creek Trail; Lightning Springs Trail; Watchman Trail; Union Peak Trail, Stuart Falls Trail, and Pumice Flat Trail.<ref name="IW814"/>

As of August 27, select roads and trails of the Rogue River – Siskiyou National Forest, including Highway 62 and Highway 230, are closed due to Broken Lookout Fire and other nearby fires.<ref name="IWClose4">{{cite web|title=Rogue River-Siskiyou NF Expands Closure - Broken Lookout Fire|url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/39505/|website=InciWeb|publisher=US Forest Service|accessdate=6 September 2017|archive-date=September 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907034140/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/39505/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Additionally, select roads and trails in the Fremont-Winema National Forest and Umpqua National Forest were closed, including all of [[Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness]].<ref name="IW814"/><ref name="IWClose1">{{cite web|title=Rogue River-Siskiyou and Fremont Winema National Forest Closures|url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/39013/|website=InciWeb|publisher=US Forest Service|accessdate=6 September 2017|archive-date=September 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907034000/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/39013/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="IWClose6">{{cite web|title=Officials Close Area West of Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness|url=https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/40148/|website=InciWeb|publisher=US Forest Service|accessdate=6 September 2017|archive-date=September 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907033039/https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5503/40148/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Portal|Oregon}} * {{Commons category-inline|High Cascades Complex}}

{{Oregon wildfires}}

[[Category:2017 Oregon wildfires]] [[Category:August 2017 in the United States]] [[Category:Crater Lake National Park]] [[Category:Fremont–Winema National Forest]] [[Category:July 2017 in the United States]] [[Category:Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest]] [[Category:Umpqua National Forest]]