7/6/09 Black Butte
By Brian MacMillan
 
The Black Butte II Fire is putting local residents on edge. Forest roads nearby are closed and campers were evacuated from the Indian Ford Campground, east of Black Butte, for safety concerns on Monday afternoon. Onlookers pulled over to the side of the HWY 20 to get a picture or a better look.
 
Garrett Mcleod was hoping to hike the butte. He's going to have to find somewhere else to go. "We're bummed. This is one of our favorite hikes because it's quick. It doesn't take too much to do," he said.
 
Those who live in the area say they woke up to loud thunder early Monday morning. "Big thunder and the dog went crazy and we went to bed and it was pretty quiet. Then, we were awakened to what we saw was a horrific fire," Camp Sherman resident Kathy Krause said.
 
Richard and Sue Bassett live in the Whychus Creek Canyon, about ten miles from the Black Butte II Fire. Though their home is safe for now, the smoke is pushing them away from their house. "It gets overpowering," Sue said. "You have to keep the windows and doors shut. It's a really brown kind of smoke that just permeates the air."
 
While the Black Butte II fire is a sight to see for many, the residents here are praying the winds won't pick up.