Cloverdale fire chief: RV electrical issue sparked fire

(Update: Level 1 pre-evacuation notice lifted)

A wind-fanned wildfire that destroyed two Cloverdale-area homes and six outbuildings and closed U.S. Highway 20 for hours was caused by an electrical problem with a travel trailer, Fire Chief Thad Olsen said. Sunday.

Crews from numerous agencies remained on site Sunday to help mop-up the 74-acre Cloverdale Fire, which broke out around 4 p.m. Saturday and quickly grew to four acres even before the first firefighters arrived on scene.

The main body of the fire began off Rabbit Brush Way in the Cascade Estates subdivision and was pushed by the winds down Highway 20.

“We were fortunate that it did not jump Highway 20,” Olsen told NewsChannel 21 on Sunday.

“We had a lot of winds coming out of the northwest at the time, with gusts of 20 miles an hour,” he said. “And to get ahead of a fire like that is very dangerous for firefighters. With continued fuels, narrow driveways, so there is no escape path for firefighters.

“And what basically turned the tide for us was we put in a call for retardant air tankers,” Olsen said.

The fire chief also noted that many homes in the area did not have adequate defensible space, a lesson repeated by fire officials every season. The area within 60 feet of a home should be cleared of any fuel that could feed wildfires, such as extra trees and shrubbery.

Deschutes County sheriff’s Sgt. Nathan Garibay, the county’s emergency services manager, told NewsChannel 21 on Sunday that two residential structures were destroyed, one possibly not a primary residence, and an RV that was an apparently temporary dwelling.

He said the initial fight involved a drop by a DC-10 (Very Large Air Tanker), as well as four heavy air tankers, two helicopters and two single-engine air tankers (SEAT planes).

Late Sunday, Level 3 evacuation orders were dropped in the area — and the Level 1 evacuation alert was lifted Tuesday evening.

Here’s Garibay’s Sunday update:

Fire managers are reporting good progress today. Firefighters worked throughout the day reinforcing control lines and mop up in from the perimeter and around structures.

As a result, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is lowering evacuation levels. All areas under Level 3 (Go Now!) Evacuation Notice have been reduced to a Level 1 (Be Ready) Evacuation Notice. All areas previously under Level 1 (Be Ready) Evacuation Notice will remain at that level for the immediate future. Evacuation notices will be revaluated tomorrow and changed as appropriate based on recommendations of fire managers.

Current Evacuation Levels:

Level 1 (Be Ready):

All residences between Rabbitbrush Lane and Central Street and north of Highway 20 to Cascade Estates Driveand Breezy Way

Road Closures:

Currently there are no road closures in effect. Howevern motorists are urged to drive with caution.

Firefighters will be patrolling the fire area and continuing to address hot spots. Smoke may be visible for the next few days. Residents are asked to remain vigilant and ready to leave if conditions worsen.

A current map of the evacuation area can be found at: https://arcg.is/D9OPi

Officials said earlier in a Twitter feed that wildland and structural engine crews were working together Sunday to hold and improve the line around the blaze, named the Cloverdale Fire. They were looking for any hot spots around homes or other structures.

The fire, estimated late Saturday at 130 acres, was mapped by GPS at 74 acres Sunday.

The wind-fanned brush fire also prompted a four-hour closure of U.S. Highway 20.

The American Red Cross opened a shelter at Five Pines Lodge, 1021 E. Desperado Trail in Sisters for evacuees. The Pet Evacuation Team was available to assist with animals as needed. Several local residents also assisted with transporting large animals belonging to evacuees.

After a four-hour closure, the Oregon Department of Transportation assisted traffic through the area on Highway 20 with pilot cars for several more hours. Track updates on our TripCheck page.