Sisters sees smoke from new Pete's Lake Fire

Smoke that is visible from Sisters looking toward the mountains is from the Pete’s Lake Fire, which is on the far side of the Three Sisters and west of Elk Lake.

Central Oregon Fire Information reports:

Firefighters spent a busy day yesterday responding to several new starts caused by lightning storms that passed over the area in the last several days. Four of these new starts were on the Deschutes National Forest and were contained at less than 1/2 acre. One new incident on the Willamette National Forest continues to grow.

Smokejumpers responded to a new wildfire in the Mink Lake Basin area, west of Elk Lake in the Three Sisters Wilderness. The Pete’s Lake Fire is now estimated at 75 acres and is 0 percent contained.

Fire behavior is high, with the fire running, torching and spotting. The fire has moved into rocky terrain on the north and south sides, allowing resources to focus on containing the east and west sides. A message on X (formerly Twitter) indicated that B

better air quality allowed the addition of a hotshot crew and three helicopters that can bring in bucket drops of water from nearby lakes.

The Lane County Sheriff’s Office issued a Level 3 (GO NOW) evacuation notice for hikers in the Mink Lake basin in the Three Sisters Wilderness.