Three Campgrounds around Lemolo Lake being Evacuated -- 100-Acre Lightning Fire Prompts U.S. Forest Service Officials to Evacuate Campers from the Lemolo Area

Release Date: Jun 27, 2015

Contact: Emily Veale, (541) 670-7248

U.S. Forest Service officials evacuated Bunker Hill, East Lemolo and Inlet campgrounds near Lemolo Lake as a safety precaution while the Bunker Fire burns one mile north of the lake. Lemolo Lake Resort and Poole Creek Campgrounds remain open.

The 100-acre fire started Friday afternoon from lightning. Five other fires are also confirmed on the Diamond Lake Ranger District of the Umpqua National Forest. Fire crews are responding to additional smoke reports across the Forest.

In anticipation of thunderstorms throughout the weekend, the Umpqua National Forest is ramped up staffing of firefighting resources. Fire officials are prepared to rapidly respond to fire starts.

The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for southwest Oregon through 11 a.m. Sunday, June 28. Current temperatures are unseasonably high and fuel moistures are considerably lower than normal for this time of year.

Earlier this week, fire officials increased the fire danger level to “high” for the entire Umpqua National Forest. The Forest will be moving to Stage 1 Public Use Restrictions on Wednesday, July 1st, which limits campfires to developed campgrounds.

For more fire information, call (541) 957-3200 or visit www.fs.usda.gov/umpqua.