BEND, OR -- Effective immediately, the area surrounding the Petes Lake Fire is closed. The fire is burning within the Mink Lake Basin in the Three Sisters Wilderness, about five miles west of Elk Lake.
Due to very dry conditions and forecasted warmer temperatures, firefighters anticipate increased fire activity Monday and Tuesday. For the public’s safety, the Willamette and Deschutes National Forests are temporarily closing numerous trails. Forest Service wilderness rangers are in the area alerting anyone already camping within the closure area.
The following trails are temporarily closed:
- The Pacific Crest Trail is closed between the junction with Winopee Lake Trail (#16) and Elk Creek Trail (#3510) to the junction with Mirror Lakes Trail (#20).
Willamette National Forest Trail Closures:
- Bear Flat - #3301
- Breezy Point - #3517
- Buck Meadows - #3521
- Elk Creek - #3510
- Foley Ridge - #3511
- French Pete - #3311
- Goose Lake - #3542
- Horse Creek - #3514
- Horse Lake - #3516
- James Creek - #3546
- Lake Side - #3525
- Louise Creek - #3520
- Martin Way - #3525.1
- McBee - #3523
- Mink Lake - #3526
- Nash Lake - #3527
- Olallie - #3529
- Olallie Mountain - #4100
- Park - #3530
- Porky Lake - #4338
- Rainbow Falls - #3543
- Rebel Creek - #3323
- Rebel Rock - #3324
- Red Hill - #3515
- Separation Lake - #3536
- Separation Meadow - #4331
- South Fork - #3327
- Starwano - #3537
- Substitute Point - #4343
- Sunset Lake - #3515.1
- Water Holes - #3538
- Wildcat - #3331
Deschutes National Forest Trail Closures:
- Horse Lake - #2
- Island Meadow - #3
- Senoj Lake - #14.1
- Six Lakes - #14
- Snowshoe Lake - #33
- Winopee Lake - #16 (partially closed)
The Petes Lake Fire was first reported the night of Friday, August 25, after lightning moved through the area. Aircraft and firefighters were unable to access the incident due to poor visibility from smoke. Smokejumpers arrived on-scene Saturday morning. As of Monday morning, the fire is estimated at 300 acres with six smokejumpers, four rappellers, one hotshot crew and two Type 2 initial attack crews assigned. Additional resources are in route. Three type-2 helicopters and air attack are supporting firefighters on the ground with water drops and crew transport.
