The Cascade Lakes Swim Series, scheduled for today through Sunday at Elk Lake, has been canceled due to the forest fire currently burning near the lake, according to Bob Bruce, a chief organizer of the event.

The fire, which officials say was started Tuesday by a lightning strike, had grown to 70 acres and was only 15 percent contained as of Thursday.

According to Bruce, the Forest Service is using a helicopter to dump water from Elk Lake on the fire. Also, fire crews are staging operations at the entire south lake and south beach area, precisely where the swim event is annually held.

Because of scheduling conflicts and permit issues, the 2006 Cascade Lakes Swim Series will not be rescheduled, according to Bruce.

”Because of heavy smoke all over, it would be impractical to schedule it at another site,” said Bruce, head coach of Central Oregon Masters Aquatics (COMA), which puts on the event. ”It’s not a very good idea from a health and safety standpoint.”

The Oregon Masters Swimming Association Open Water Championships, originally scheduled as one of the swims at Elk Lake, has been rescheduled for Sunday, Aug. 20, when it will be held as part of a swimming competition at Dorena Lake, near Cottage Grove. Entry fee information can be found at www.swimoregon.org.

”We’re disappointed,” Bruce said. ”We know that nature reigns supreme. It’s our major event, but we’ll do it again next year.”

COMA will host a 5-kilometer postal swim opportunity on Sunday in the 50-meter pool at Bend’s Juniper Swim and Fitness Club for all swimmers who are interested. The gate will open at 9 a.m., and swims will start at 9:30 a.m. To reserve a lane, e-mail Bruce at coachbob@bendbroadband.com.