Link Fire grows significantly

Thursday, July 10, 11 p.m.

Smoke rising from the Link Fire made a beautiful sunset Wednesday evening, July 9. photo by Jim Cornelius

Firefighters lost ground to the Link Fire west of Sisters on Thursday, June 10, according to fire officials.

There were conflicting reports Thursday night as to the fire's size and proximity to Black Butte Ranch.

BBR Police chief Gil Zaccaro said that, as of a 7 p.m. briefing, the fire was between 3,500 and 4,000 acres in size and he estimated it was about four miles to the west of the Ranch.

The Ranch triggers its evacuation plan if a blaze comes to within two miles of the Ranch perimeter.

Because of today's fire activity, Black Butte Ranch has invoked their Phase II Preparedness Level, based on their emergency plan, fire officials reported. Local structural firefighters have been activated to a higher preparedness level in the event that structure protection is needed.

However, Fire Information Officer Janet Schlosser told The Nugget that the fire was at 2,100 acres and all of the advance was to the south. She acknowledged that her information might not be as current as Zaccaro's.

A public meeting will be held Friday, July 11, at the Black Butte Ranch Recreation Center at 9 a.m. to update residents on the situation.

"We're having the meeting basically to assuage people's fears," Schlosser said.

Camp Tamarack and the Scout Lake Day Use area and Overnight Camp remain closed. Recreation areas to the west of the fire in the Meadow Lakes Basin are also closed.

All Suttle Lake campgrounds and day use areas, the Suttle Lake Resort, Camp Davidson, Camp Caldera, and the Suttle Lake Methodist Camp remain open.

Fire officials urge motorists to drive slowly and with headlights on along Highway 20, particularly when smoke is visible on the highway. Watch for fire vehicles and equipment on the highway and forest roads.