Crews Make Some Progress This Weekend on Puzzle Fire

The cause of the fire still remains under investigation.

Photos courtesy: Don Thrall

(MARION FORKS) - Fire crews were able to make some progress this weekend on the Puzzle Fire on the Willamette National Forest, two miles north of Marion Lake. The fire is now at 4,610 acres and is 10 percent contained.

The Northwest corner of the fire was the busiest place for firefighters Sunday. Additional spread of a slopover has effectively been prevented with the use of a heavy air tankers dropping retardant and helicopter bucket work.

Crews are working directly on the fire line on the southwest corner and on the northern perimeter.

A paracargo load was scheduled for mid-afternoon Sunday for the northern perimeter. The cargo load contains hose and pumps to allow crews to bring water along the line toward the west.

On Saturday, easterly winds and the day’s warmer temperatures hampered fire fighting efforts on the west flank of the fire.

A small slop over fire on the northwest perimeter was contained but continued to remain active during the heat of the day.

Crews working along the north edge built direct line where the fire has crossed over Bingham Ridge.

Crews are continuing to create and improve contingency lines about a mile away from the fire’s edge.

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

Meadow and Link Lakes remain closed as helicopters continue to dip large buckets into the lake to ferry water to the Lake George Fire.

Forest closures are in place on both the Deschutes and Willamette National Forests in and around the Mt. Washington Wilderness and the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness.

The Pacific Crest Trail, from the 500 Rd south to Hwy. 242, is closed as is the PCT north from Highway 20 to Whitewater Road.

There is a closure around the Puzzle Fire, an area bounded by Hwy. 22 on the west, Whitewater Creek on the north, the Warm Springs reservation and Forest Roads 1230 and 1234 on the east, and Hwy. 20/126 from Santiam Pass to Santiam Junction on the south. Closures related to the Black Crater Fire exist on Hwy 242 to the north, Forest Rd 15 to the east, Soap Creek to the south and the Pacific Crest Trail to the west.