Cache Mountain fire overview

The Cache Mountain fire made one terrifying run on Sunday afternoon, July 28 -- enough to destroy two homes at the northwest corner of Black Butte Ranch and forced up to 5,000 people to flee the resort community.

By Tuesday morning, firefighters had beaten the blaze back and tentative plans were set for a partial re-opening of the Ranch on Wednesday, July 31.

The blaze, which started with a lightning strike on the flanks of Cache Mountain on Tuesday afternoon, July 23, crept eastward as strained state and federal agencies responded to back up initial local attacks on the fire.

By the weekend, the Northwest Rockies Incident Management Team from Montana was fully engaged in battling the fire -- and it looked like they were going to beat the fire down.

Although the fire grew to 3,300 acres overnight on Saturday, July 27, firefighters were optimistic that they would get the upper hand on the blaze by midday Sunday.

"We're poised right at the turning point today," said Incident Commander Bob Sandman at a Sunday morning briefing.

All morning, progress was good. Black Butte Ranch was on alert, but evacuation seemed a distant possibility. Ranch officials and residents alike thought there would be plenty of notice if evacuation became necessary.

Then the wind came.

Heavy gusts shortly after 1:30 p.m. created a spot fire that grew into a fire storm in minutes, blowing up a wall of flames that marched across the perimeter of the Ranch, engulfing Golf Homes 96 and 97.

Immediate evacuation was ordered for the northwest sector of the Ranch. As the fire loomed menacingly, law enforcement officials called for full evacuation of the Ranch.

The sudden evacuation caught many residents and renters at the Ranch pool, on bike trails and on golf courses. Many had mere minutes to gather their belongings and flee.

The evacuation was smooth and orderly, with no accidents or injuries, according to law enforcement officials.

The incident command post at Sisters High School was electric with a sense of utmost urgency. For a time, there was a sense that the Golf Homes section of the Ranch was going up in smoke.

But despite a firestorm that BBR police Chief Gil Zaccaro described as "absolutely horrendous," Black Butte Ranch firefighters made a stand on Fiddleneck Lane, saving two houses only a few yards from those that were destroyed -- houses that were believed lost.

In all, 84 homes were immediately threatened by the fire, but were saved.

Fire Chief Ed Sherrell credited tile roofs and homeowners' creation of "defensible space" -- cleared, raked up areas around the home -- for making it possible for firefighters to make a stand.

In some cases "we had fire right up to the foundations, but we saved them," Sherrell said.

As winds died down Sunday night, firefighters anxiously awaited the developments of the next day.

They feared a repeat of the gusty afternoon winds of Sunday could push the fire out of control.

"We were just watching the clock the whole day, hoping we'd be able to hold (the fire)," said one fire planning officer.

Folks in Sisters watched the trees and flags stir in the wind, hoping that the breeze would remain gentle. It did.

With light winds and massive air drops of retardant, firefighters held the fire on Monday, despite some active burning on the south and east flanks.

The fire was declared 60 percent contained on Monday afternoon, at 4,200 acres.

But firefighters continued to be wary, as forecasts predicted more wind on Tuesday.

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

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