Weather aids Black Crater fire fight

A lack of firefighting resources dogged the effort to fight the Black Crater Fire, but that effort was aided by the weather.

Though some nasty winds played a large roll in the blow-up that forced evacuations of Crossroads and Edgington Road on Thursday, July 27, the weather overall was more cooperative than might be expected at the end of July. Temperatures in Sisters dropped into the 70s (and the 30s overnight) on Sunday and Monday and humidity rose, allowing firefighters two days in which to consolidate gains made in an all-night burnout operation on Saturday, July 29.

Firefighters measure the potential for fires to grow with the Haines Index, that measures air stability and dryness over a fire area. Several days of Haines Index 3 (low potential) were a boon to firefighters.

Haines Index 3 days are expected for much of the week, climbing to a "moderate Haines 4 on Friday.