Central Oregon – Based on additional information from an infrared flight taken last night, the The Black Butte II Fire is now estimated to be 650 acres in size and is 10% contained. The fire is located on the east side of Black Butte approximately 7 miles northwest of Sisters on the Deschutes National Forest.
The fire was active on the north flank yesterday with mostly interior burning. Cooler temperatures have assisted firefighters with suppression efforts, allowing them to take a more direct approach. Small burnout operations are planned along the containment line as firefighters continue to progress with line construction.
“We are encouraging residents and visitors in the Sisters area to be very careful when driving on Highway 20 and in Sisters. There is heavy equipment and fire-related traffic in addition to increased tourist traffic associated with the quilt show,” stated Incident Commander Mark Rapp.
The Central Oregon Interagency Incident Management Team-Type 2 (Mark Rapp) assumed command of the fire at 6:00 p.m.last night. The team is responsible for management of the Black Butte II Fire and for initial attack response within a five-mile radius of the fire. The team and associated support personnel are in process of setting up their Incident Command Post (ICP) at Allingham Guard Station located 2 miles north of Camp Sherman
Resources assigned to the fire include four air tankers, nineteen twenty-person hand crews (four hotshot crews, ten contract crews and five 20-person agency hand crews), six helicopters, five dozers, fifteen engines, six water tenders and miscellaneous overhead for an approximate total of 352 personnel.
The cooling trend is predicted to continue through tomorrow with high pressure expected to build through the weekend. Today’s weather is predicted to be partly cloudy with maximum temperatures 66-74 degrees with minimum humidity 28-36%; valley winds 3 to 8 mph and ridgetop winds 3 to 11 mph.
Quick Facts:
- Fire acreage has been updated after an infrared flight last evening
- An area closure is now in effect for the Black Butte II Fire area; see below
- Cooler weather is allowing firefighters to take a more direct approach in fighting the fire
- Small burnout operations are planned, weather permitting, along the containment line as needed
- The Central Oregon Interagency Incident Management Team (Mark Rapp) assumed command of the fire at 6:00 p.m. yesterday evening
- Expect increased traffic on Highway 20 and increased tourist traffic in Sisters due to the quilt show
- No residences or structures are threatened at this time
- The Black Butte Trail and the Metolious Windego Trail are closed
- Black Butte Ranch is located approximately 1.5 miles to the south
- Black Butte Lookout has been evacuated but is not currently threatened.
- Indian Ford Campground has been evacuated and is closed for public safety reasons
- There is an area closure within the boundaries of Forest Roads 14, 1120, 1126, 165, 160 and 11.
- Forest Road 11 (North of the junction with the Indian Ford Road to the intersection of Forest Road 1126), and Forest Road 1120 in its entirety, are also closed. Forest Road 14 is open.
- A temporary flight restriction is in place for a 5-mile radius
- As of 12 midnite on July 7, 2009 (or 12:01 a.m on July 8, 2009) all lands administered by Deschutes National Forest, Ochoco National Forest, Crooked River National Grassland and Prineville Bureau of Land Management moved to an Industrial Fire Precaution (IFPL) Level II, partial hootowl. Any power saws (except at loading sites), cable yarding, blasting and welding or cutting of metal may occur only between the hours of 8 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. local time. See the www.fs.fed.us/centraloregon/fire website for additional information.
Residents are reminded to be extremely cautious with fire and to check current fire restrictions before heading outdoors for recreation activities. State protected lands and Bureau of Management Lands along river corridors are currently under public fire restrictions; federal lands moved to IFPL Level II (see above) on midnight, July 7. For more information, go to www.fs.fed.us/r6/central oregon/fire or http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/FIELD/PVL/aboutus.shtml
