Cache Creek fire rages west of Sisters

A lightning-caused fire in the rugged terrain of the Cache Creek drainage west of Sisters erupted Monday afternoon, August 2, quickly throwing Sisters under a pall of smoke.

The fire was reported at 2:40 p.m., burning on the west side of Cache Mountain, four miles southeast of the Santiam Sno-park.

The fire grew to 200 acres as of Tuesday morning, burning south of Highway 20.

The fire was burning out of the Mt. Washington Wilderness Area east into the general forest, but it was not threatening any populated areas on Tuesday morning.

"At this time there is no threat at all to Suttle or Blue Lake" or any of the campgrounds and resorts," fire information officer Christy Donham reported.

Multiple lightning strike fires had stretched local fire fighting resources thin over the past few days. According to Donham, resources are being brought in from all over the region to free local fire fighters to handle other incidents as they arise.

There were 23 smoke jumpers and six hot-shot crew working the fire Tuesday morning. Five fire engines and one bulldozer attacked the fire on the ground outside the wilderness area while four air tankers and two helicopters launched an air attack.

The fire was moving east Monday night. There were a few "spot" fires, where embers tossed by the wind started blazes outside the main fire area. However, the spot fires were quickly suppressed, Donham reported.

The weather has been cooperative so far, but Donham reported that increased winds were expected Tuesday afternoon.

The Cache Creek fire was the second large fire in the Sisters country this week. The Dugout fire two miles southeast of Mt. Washington consumed 25 acres before it was contained Monday night, August 2.

The blaze broke out Wednesday, July 28, apparently a "holdover" fire that smoldered for several days after a lightning strike on Friday, July 23.