Black Crater Fire Update III
July 29th, 2006
As of noon Saturday (July 29) the Black Crater Fire has grown to nearly 5,000 acres. More pre-evacuation plans are being made, but so far only 500 people have been evacuated. We incorrectly reported the number as 1,500 previously. The entire population of Sisters, Oregon is 1,700, so our mistake is significant, percentage-wise. Only 30 percent of the population has been evauated, not 90 percent, so far.
This is the noon report from the Northwest Oregon Interagency Incident Management Team
For Immediate Release: Mid-Day Fire Update, July 29, 2006 at Noon
Black Crater Fire was Active on Friday Night and Spread to the North
At midnight Friday night an infrared flight provided fire officials with locations of new spot fires and an updated fire perimeter. On Friday night, fire acreage was estimated at 4,727 acres. Most of the spread of the fire was in a northerly direction due to continued winds out of the southwest.
Today’s focus is on continued shoring up of fireline along the east side of the fire and containment of spot fires produced by winds on Friday afternoon. Fire officials are also working to establish fireline along the north side of the fire joining together and taking advantage of existing road systems and natural fuel breaks.
In view of the fire’s continued northward spread, fire officials have extended an existing contingency trigger point north of the fire. The extension is part of an effort to provide for adequate future warning should the fire continue to move in a north / northeasterly direction. Officials extended the trigger point for the Tollgate Community along Road 1510 approximately 2 miles north of the fire.
“These trigger points are part of advance preparation by local, state and federal officials so we and our neighboring communities can be prepared for future developments,” said Carl West, Incident Commander for the NW Oregon Interagency Team. “It is important to stress that there are no new evacuations at this time. Should an evacuation become necessary in the future, local and state officials have a plan to contact potentially affected residents,” West added.
Updated figures for acreage, personnel and equipment will be released early this evening.