Fire damages Black Butte Ranch home

A fire did significant damage to a Black Butte Ranch home on Wednesday, June 20.

The fire at Rock Ridge 14, off Hawksbeard, broke out at about 3:45 p.m. The fire involved part of the house and spread out into the lot and was climbing into the trees when firefighters arrived.

According to Black Butte Ranch Fire Department reports, crews arrived on the scene a mere four minutes after call-out and got the fire knocked down in minutes. The quick attack spared at least two other structures that were within 20 feet of the flames.

"It was close, let's put it that way," said one firefighter.

The Black Butte Ranch Fire Department responded with a ladder truck and engine; the Sisters fire district sent out an engine in support and state forestry and U.S. Forest Service units also responded.

Any fire at Black Butte Ranch poses a major threat, according to fire officials, because the residences are built amid the trees in the "wildland interface."

According to fire fighters, the lot where the fire ignited was relatively free of combustible materials such as pine needles and small trees. Fire officials encourage homeowners to remove combustible "ladder fuels" from around the home to prevent the rapid spread of fires.

The cause of this fire remained under investigation on Thursday, June 21. According to a neighbor, the residents had recently moved in to the property.