Newest Puzzle Fire near Mt. Jefferson tops 4,100 Acres
Bend Weekly News Sources
August 22, 2006
Cascade Crest Complex Fire Grows to Nearly 19,000 Acres
by Bend Weekly News Sources
Comprised of the Black Crater, Lake George, and Puzzle fires, the Cascade Crest Complex Wildland Fire has burned just short of 19,000 acres and is estimated at 30 percent containment.
The newest fire, dubbed “The Puzzle Fire” because of its proximity to the Puzzle Creek Drainage, started August 19 from unknown causes. It has now grown to 4,126 acres with zero containment. The Puzzle Fire is burning two miles east of Marion Forks and about a dozen miles north of the Lake George Fire.
The lightning-caused Black Crater fire has burned 9,400 acres and is considered 100 percent contained. Five miles west of Sisters, the Lake George fire is now at 5,472 acres and is 70 percent contained.
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Photo by Matt Gomes |
Over 1,000 fire personnel including 28 crews and two spike camps continue their efforts. Divisions are now being combined on the Lake George Fire as mop up continues in the interior in preparation for aerial mop up. One spike camp has been pulled from the line. Crews have completed direct line construction on the northwest perimeter up to Mt. Washington from the lava flow. Crews are also mopping up spot fires and looking for additional spots in the area.
The Black Crater Fire is being patrolled and all nuisance smokes have been mopped up. Some engines, tenders and crews remain.
Crews have now been able to reach the Puzzle Fire on the Willamette National Forest, and dozer lines are being constructed outside the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness using old roads and fire-lines from the B & B Fire in 2003. Crews began constructing hand fire-line near Marion Lake, from an old B & B fuel break to the Pacific Crest Trail.
Temperatures in the mid to upper 70s, and humidity in 25-30 percent range are expected today when fire behavior is expected to become more active.
Highway 242 opened this morning to all traffic, and forest closures are in place. Because of the Puzzle Fire, most of the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness area and surrounding forest lands are closed until further notice. The closed area is bounded by Highway 22 on the west, Whitewater Creek on the north, the Warm Springs reservation on the northeast, Forest Roads 1230 and 1234 on the east and Highway 20/126 from Santiam Pass to Santiam Junction on the South. Marion and Pamelia Lakes are contained within the closure area.
Other pages in this section
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- Brian Smith plans to answer call of world’s highest peak – December 31, 2006
- Survey says: Snow level ‘nearly normal’ – December 29, 2006
- Fatal crash closes Highway 97 – December 29, 2006
- Under proposal, Crater Lake entry fees would double – December 22, 2006
- Oregon Neutral In Shift From National Parks – December 15, 2006
- Big fee hikes at national parks are a bit too big – December 21, 2006
- Proposal would increase Crater Lake fees – December 18, 2006
- America’s Largest Bald Eagle Festival is President’s Day Weekend 2007 in the Klamath Basin of South Central Oregon – December 19, 2006
- Since You Asked: how much snow does Crater Lake get each winter? – December 14, 2006
- Volunteers become Park Service’s public face – November 28, 2006
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- Remembering a little boy lost – November 23, 2006
- Memorial Service Scheduled for Boy, 8, Lost at Crater Lake – November 18, 2006
- See old-growth, National Creek Falls on short trail – November 17, 2006
- Pine Beetles Can Set Stage for Disastrous Forest Fires – November 6, 2006
- Mom hopes to use dogs to find son – October 25, 2006
- Search for boy winds down – October 21, 2006
- Ceremony honors missing 8-year-old – October 21, 2006
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- Searchers scour woods in vain – October 19, 2006
- Crater Lake Highway Renamed – October 18, 2006
- ‘Frustrating’ search – October 18, 2006
- Boulders, brush and bravery, but no boy – October 18, 2006
- Missing boy faces snow, wind – October 17, 2006
- Searchers continue to look for Portland boy missing near Crater Lake – October 17, 2006
- Snow slows search for boy missing at Crater Lake – October 17, 2006
- Massive search underway for Portland boy missing at Crater Lake – October 16, 2006
- Boy still missing at Crater Lake – October 16, 2006
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- ‘The Good Fire’ – September 25, 2006
- Block Island will be featured on ABC show – September 22, 2006
- Bybee Complex Fires – September 14, 2006
- Snow job at Crater Lake National Park in Oregon – September 7, 2006
- Trees of heaven – September 7, 2006
- WebCam now available to view Crater Lake fire – September 7, 2006
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- Bybee Fire Complex Fact Sheet – September 2, 2006
- Crater Lake science and learning center opens – August 28, 2006
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- Lightning-stoked burns still growing – August 27, 2006
- Grand Opening of Science and Learning Center – August 24, 2006
- Roving the Floor of Crater Lake – August 21, 2006
- Weather makes firefighters work harder – August 20, 2006
- Found in the ashes – August 20, 2006
- Crater Lake due for odd visitor – August 18, 2006
- Army veteran finally gets to run – August 14, 2006
- Crater Lake hosts marathon – August 13, 2006
- ‘What you see is what you get’ – August 12, 2006
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- Bybee fire use update – August 3, 2006
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- John Carl Owings – August 1, 2006
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- Bill would boost size of Upper Klamath Refuge – July 10, 2006
- History into stories – July, 2006
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- U.S. considers closer watch on volcanoes – July 13, 2006
- Lack of cash strains national parks – June 24, 2006
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- Annie Creek Restaurant set to open at Crater Lake – May 25, 2006
- Rouse to mark 50 years – April 23, 2006
- Gerald L. ‘Gary’ Hathaway – December 12, 2001
- Senator Boxer announces National Scenic Byway grants for northern California All-American Road – March 31, 2006
- Walking on Crater Lake – February 21, 2006
- Dispute swirls around geothermal project – January 14, 2006
- William Arthur ‘Bill’ Bloom – January 13, 2006
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