Blaze in Central Oregon Takes a Step Back

Firefighters make significant progress fighting the Black Crater conflagration.

Oregon Guard Blackhawk Saturday during firefighing operations Photo by: Tim King

(SISTERS) - Structural and wildland fire crews made significant progress in controlling the threat to structures posed by the Black Crater Conflagration burning southwest of Sisters in Deschutes County.

Working together, fire officials say crews implemented a 6-mile burnout along the perimeter fire line. Fire personnel targeted the east and northeast section where the risk to structures is the greatest.

The State Fire Marshal has deployed resources from Clackamas, Linn, Lane, Benton, Marion, Yamhill, Lincoln, Klamath, and Clatsop counties to join initial responders from Sisters, Cloverdale, Black Butte, Redmond, LaPine, Sunriver and Bend.

Some local residents saw the line of fire vehicles moving eastward from the Oregon coast up Highway-22, a long line of fire teams from places like Lincoln City and Seaside, stating that it reminded them of the Oregon they grew up with, where people always pulled together un tough times.

Structural resources from Marion, Clackamas, and Multnomah counties remain on pre-alert. Now that the McLean Conflagration is successfully under control, communications resources from that fire are on their way to Black Crater.

Firefighters are defending the homes of 1033 citizens from 413 residences in the Tollgate subdivision who were advised to evacuate yesterday and the 496 residents from 204 homes previously evacuated from the Crossroads subdivision and Edgington Road.

The intense efforts have so far protected community homes although a historic cabin was destroyed by fire yesterday afternoon in an area without fire protection.

The threatening Black Crater Conflagration, started by lightning, has grown to 5700 acres and is 5 percent contained. On July 27th Governor Ted Kulongoski invoked the Oregon Conflagration Act to allow State Fire Marshal Nancy Orr to mobilize firefighters and equipment to assist local resources battling the fire.

The request to invoke the Oregon Conflagration Act came from Deschutes County Fire Defense Board Chief Taylor Robertson. On July 28 the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) authorized the use of federal funds to help fight the fire.