Black Crater Fire Update VI
July 30th, 2006
Saturday night backing burns on the Black Crater Fire were deemed successful as of 9:00 AM, but strong west winds were blowing as of 10:00 AM and efforts to hold the burnout lines are being severely tested.
Fire management will be transitioning to another Incident Team today.
From the Northwest Oregon Interagency Incident Management Team at 9:00 AM.
On Saturday night fire crews completed a successful burnout operation along a 8-mile section of line along the east side of the fire. The burnout reduced the level of unburned fuels reducing the potential for fire spread and spotting over the line. “We’re feeling a little more comfortable about reducing the potential threat to the affected communities,” said Carl West, Incident Commander. “If we can secure the lines burned out last night and hang on to those areas today we will have turned an important corner on this incident. A lot of hard work remains to be done. This morning, if conditions are favorable we plan to extend the burnout operation along the north line in an effort to check the fire’s spread to the north,” West added.
On Saturday afternoon, members of Southeast Blue Team, a Type 1 Incident Management Team arrived at the Incident Command Post in Sisters. Today, the incoming team will be transitioning with members of the Northwest Team. On Monday at 6:00 a.m. the Southeast Blue Team will take over command of the fire.
Updated information on the status of the fire will be provided at the two daily community briefings at Sisters High School (10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.).
Fire acreage as of 10:00 AM was reported at 5,700+ acres, as we reported previously. No new acreage updates are available at this time, because fire crews are fully engaged.