Firefighters knock down blaze west of town

A brush fire believed to be human-caused broke out on Wednesday afternoon, May 31, off Cold Springs Cutoff Road west of Sisters.

Firefighters from multiple agencies were able to catch the fire and keep it to 1/4 acre.

Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District crews were dispatched to assist a U.S. Forest Service crew on the fire, which was discovered approximately 400 feet off of the Cold Springs Cutoff Road. The fire is presumed to be human-caused and is under investigation with USFS law enforcement taking the lead on the investigation.

Sisters District Ranger Ian Reid told The Nugget that, as of Monday, “It does not appear to be associated with a camp — a non-recreational camp.”

Reid said a final determination on cause could be made this week.

“That one had some potential,” Reid acknowledged. “We had a lot of resources though.”

Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District responded with three firefighters and one fire engine. Additional units from Black Butte Ranch, Cloverdale Fire, and Oregon Department of Forestry brought an additional eight firefighters.

There have been multiple human-caused fires in Sisters Country over the past couple of weeks, with the area just entering fire season. The National Interagency Fire Center reports that the national average of human-caused wildfires comprises 87 percent of all wildfire occurrences every year. The Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District reminds residents and visitors of the important role they play in preventing wildfires, since most of these fires can be

prevented.