New wildfire burns 60 acres east of Mt. Hood

A fire that broke out over the weekend in steep, rugged terrain east of Mt. Hood forced evacuation of a popular hunting area and had burned about 60 acres by Tuesday, forest officials said – a visible reminder that wildfire season is not yet over.

The Badger Lake Fire broke out Saturday in heavy stands of dead and down timber northwest of the lake, located on the Badger Creek Wilderness in Wasco County, said Mt. Hood National Forest spokeswoman Laura Pramuk.

Because it’s a hazardous area for firefighters on the ground, other than rapellers, most of the firefight is happening from the air. Retardant planes are being dispatched from the Redmond Air Center, dropping their loads along a forest road in an effort to keep the blaze inside the wilderness, Pramuk said.

However, smoky that was quite visible and evident Tuesday evening in the Bend area was not from that blaze, but from a large prescribed burn to the west in the Willamette National Forest, Deschutes County dispatchers said.

About 70 personnel are on the Badger Lake Fire, including two 20-person crews and four engines.Two water-dropping helicopters also were at work on the blaze.

The cause of the fire was under investigation, but Pramuk said it’s “more than likely” an escaped campfire.

“Fire season is not over,” she said. “It’s still really hot and dry, especially on the eastern side of the forest that gets a lot less rain. We don’t expect rain for another week or so, and the wind was really strong over the weekend, which is why they are hitting it really hard. People need to use their heads and not be sloppy with campfires.

An area closure is in effect for the area round the fire, including roads, trails and developed recreation sites.

For the latest information and closure details, visit this page on the Mt. Hood National Forest Website