Sisters area fire grows as residents await alerts

SISTERS — Smoke is expected to remain in the greater Sisters area for the next several days as the Pole Creek Fire that now has grown to 16,000 acres keeps burning in the Three Sisters Wilderness. Crews mostly were able to hold and improve containment lines on Sunday, according to the Deschutes National Forest.

An easterly wind coupled with moderate temperatures and humidity helped keep the fire contained on Sunday. Crews worked to improve containment on the fire’s northwest, south and east sides. The blaze has fouled the air right here in Lane County in recent days and forced the closure of part of the Pacific Crest Trail between Trail No. 3531 and the trailhead on Highway 242.

Some residents in the Sisters area remained under pre-evacuation alert on Sunday. People with special needs and those in need of assistance were, along with people who have large animals, encouraged to move out of the area. Residents in the Crossroads and EdgingtonRemuda areas were put on a “Level 2 pre-evacuation” alert over the weekend, meaning they need to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. Officials also established an evacuation hot line at 541-550-4886.

In the event that there is a need for evacuation, citizens in affected areas will receive a call from 911 dispatch with a recorded message providing specific evacuation information. To receive these messages on cell phones, citizens are encouraged to visit www.deschutes.org/citizensalerts and register their numbers with the Citizen Alert program.

Fire officials are holding a community meeting today at 7:30 p.m. at Sisters Elementary School, 611 East Cascades Ave. to update residents.


Mark Baker has been a journalist for the past 25 years. He’s currently the sports editor at The Jackson Hole News & Guide in Jackson, Wyo.