Puzzle Fire Grows to Over 4,000 Acres

Congressman Greg Walden and State Representatives Chuck Burley and Gene Whisnant were briefed on the Cascade Crest Complex fires Tuesday.

Teams discussing fire activities

(MARION FORKS) - The Puzzle Fire on the Willamette National Forest, two miles north of Marion Lake, which has grown to 4,305 acres, was flown and assessed Monday for tactical action.

Crews and overhead were assigned to the Puzzle Fire Tuesday to begin scouting for possible containment line to the north in Branch IV. In Branch III on the south side of the puzzle fire crews are beginning to open up trails and dozer line left over from the B&B Complex fire in 2003 for in indirect line.

A structure protection/evacuation plan has been developed for the Marion Forks, the Fish Hatchery, and the Metolius River drainage, including Camp Sherman.

Improvement of previously constructed dozer lines outside the wilderness on the Puzzle Fire will continue and crews will begin fire suppression activities tying Marion Lake to a lava field south of the fire.

Puzzle Fire crews have began to construct line in Branch III, (divisions J+K) for possible containment lines near Marion Lake.

The cause of the fire is still unknown.

Congressman Greg Walden joined State Representatives Chuck Burley and Gene Whisnant in visiting the Sisters Middle School Incident Command Post on Tuesday for a briefing on the Cascade Crest Complex.

The complex includes three fires: Black Crater, Lake George and Puzzle.

Congressman Walden attended a field tour of the Black Crater Fire to assess post fire recovery opportunities.

The Willamette and Deschutes National Forests issued closure orders for the areas in and around the Mount Washington Wilderness.

A portion of the Mt. Jefferson wilderness area is closed due to the Puzzle Fire until further notice.

The closed area is bounded by the Woodpecker Trail #3343 to the north, by the Pacific Crest Trail on the east, by the Marion #3436 and Minto Pass #3437 trails to the south, and the wilderness boundary to the west.

Marion and Pamelia Lakes are contained within the closure area.