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Sisters, Oregon
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The contents of the on-line edition of The Nugget represent a selection among the stories that appear in the weekly print edition.

Blaze "advanced like a firestorm"
By Jim Cornelius and Eric Dolson

Sisters, 7:30 p.m., July 28 -- Both homes lost to fire at Black Butte Ranch were on the northwest corner of the property, probably on Fiddleneck, as the fire exploded in the early afternoon on Sunday.

There are another 84 structures "at risk" from flames that surged onto the Ranch.

Sometime between 1:30 and 2 p.m. the fire "blew up" very fast.

"It advanced like a fire storm. There was no time to do anything," said Black Butte Police Chief Gil Zaccaro.

Deschutes County Sheriff Les Stiles said "what was a spot fire was suddenly a wall."

Chief Zaccaro said that the automated "reverse 9-1-1", where homes are called by computer, was used. He did not know how effective the system was.

In addition, Black Butte Police, Deschutes County Deputies and Search and Rescue personnel went door-to-door and down the streets with loud speakers advising residents to flee.

The evacuation was orderly, according to Zaccaro.

"There were no incidents whatsoever, no fender benders. People were complying and getting in their cars and leaving. I can't believe how smoothly things went, aside from the obvious loss..."

Zaccaro did not know how many people were on the Ranch, Oregon's premier resort, but often on summer weekends there are up to 5,000 people on the Ranch.

Zaccaro had no idea when people would be allowed back in the property.

There are 7 regional fire departments protecting homes and the State Fire Marshall has a team onsite to manage the protection of private property.

The fire was expected to "lie down" over night, giving firefighters another chance to contain it.

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