News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 11 of 11
The Milli fire is now estimated at 10,496 acres. Fire officials report that the main part of the fire was active overnight and is expected to continue to burn on the west and southwest flanks as it backs into the wilderness area. The fire grew toward Lava Lake Camp and toward North Matthieu Lake. Crews and masticators will work along Highway 242 today to clear heavy fuels and strengthen the control line. Firefighters on Sunday were able to make very good progress extending and strengthening handlines and dozer lines... Full story
Moderate temperatures, higher humidity levels and favorable wind conditions allowed firefighters to gain ground on the 9,331-acre Milli Fire burning west and southwest of Sisters on Sunday. Conditions are again smoky in Sisters on Monday morning and, like yesterday, smoke should begin to lift in late morning as the sun hits the cool inversion layer. Smoke monitoring information is available at: oregonsmoke.blogspot.com. Smoky conditions may affect viewing of the solar eclipse, which will have about 30 seconds of totality in... Full story
Due to increased fire activity on the Milli Fire, located west of Sisters, the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office has issued a Level 1 (BE READY) Pre-Evacuation notice for the following areas: All areas between Hwy 242 and Hwy 20 and west of Cold Springs Cuttoff Rd (FS 1012), which includes Black Butte Ranch. Level 1: Means "BE READY" for potential evacuation. Residents should be aware of the danger that exists in their area, monitor emergency services websites and local media outlets for information. This is the time for... Full story
With the solar eclipse and most of the summer behind us, it might be easy to conclude that summer is all but over. But at Sisters Movie House, it is a time to reprise some of this year's most popular special event arts programming. For the final six days of August, from Saturday, August 26 through Thursday, August 31, the theater will feature one "event" per night, showcasing fine art and music. The special event movies all start at 5 p.m. each day, with tickets priced at $12.50 per film for all ages. On Saturday, August 26... Full story
There's no more impressive sight than a heavy tanker swooping out of the smoke over a forest fire, dropping a vivid red smear of retardant. For local residents, it's comforting to hear the tankers rumbling over the rooftops to do battle with the smoky monster that looms on the horizon over their town. The sheer power and majesty of the aerial assault leads many people to believe that retardant drops can stop a raging blaze. While air power is critical to the battle, it can't w... Full story
What started as a small lightning-sparked fire on Black Crater in the Three Sisters Wilderness west of Sisters blew up into a raging wildfire that has burned over 10,000 acres and has displaced hundreds of Sisters-area residents. The Milli Fire was 20 percent contained as of Monday afternoon. Containment is considered as having strong control lines that are well mopped up, where there is a high degree of confidence that the fire won't escape those lines. A perfect storm of... Full story
As local residents of Sisters awoke to smoke-filled skies, many out-of-town visitors prepared for the coming full solar eclipse. In the yard of their rented home off South Pine Street, a small group of nine friends set up a homemade projection screen to view the eclipse. They came from Palo Alto, California, Longview, Washington, and Portland and Bend, Oregon to join their friends in experiencing Sisters and the eclipse. Jeff Myers, a scientist with NASA who works at the Ames... Full story
When the Milli Fire, located southwest of Sisters, flared up last Wednesday, growing from 260 acres to 3,500, smoke from the fire became a concern for residents in the area surrounding the fire. For some, smoke causes minor eye and nose irritation, some develop headaches. But, for those with underlying health issues, smoke is much more than an inconvenience - it can be life-threatening and, at the very least, an irritant causing serious medical concerns. According to Dr. Rod... Full story
You should always have a disaster plan for your pets, no matter what their size. Make sure that your cats and dogs are wearing collars and identification tags that are up to date. You'll increase your chances of being reunited with Rover or Kitty if they get lost by having them microchipped. During disasters in Central Oregon the Pet Evacuation Team (P.E.T.) works under the direction of Red Cross and Emergency Services during Central Oregon evacuations. The regional... Full story
When I was a young man of about 20 or so, I had a Confederate battle flag sticker on the back window of my Chevy Impala. Where the stars of the (misnamed) Stars and Bars would usually be, were the letters "LYNYRD SKYNYRD." Yep. What that flag meant to me was ... Southern Rock! Fly high, Freebird. Southern music was then - and remains - beloved to me. That's what I was celebrating. Oh, I also dug Neil Young, whether or not a Southern man needed him around anyhow, and by then... Full story
Sisters Country is not uncommon to a little atmospheric smoke and haze during the dry days of summer fire season when wildfires happen. Smoky morning haze from a faraway fire with a nighttime inversion and breeze bring light smog and a minor annoyance. This year, however, all residents of Sisters are on high alert as the Milli fire blew up due to a high-wind day which took the fire from a manageable size to thousands of acres in hours. Air quality plays a role in everyday life, but especially during exercise. As a person begi... Full story
