Areas of Mt. Jefferson Wilderness closed due to fire

Beginning this afternoon, the Sisters Ranger District will close a portion of the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness due to the continuing threat of the Lionshead Fire.

That fire on the Warm Springs Reservation is the source of the ominous plume of smoke on the horizon. The nearer Green Ridge Fire is 100 percent contained and all the smoke seen from Sisters is from the Lionshead Fire.

The area being closed includes all Deschutes National Forest lands within the border of the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness from north of Jack Lake to the border with the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation. This includes all areas accessed by the Jefferson Lake, Brush Creek, and Bear Valley trailheads. The Jack Lake Trailhead, campground and area remains open.

Visitors should abide by this closure to avoid potential injury and create unnecessary risk to others. The closure will remain in place until the wildfire is no longer a threat to these areas.

For information on the Lionshead Fire, visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7049/.