Thread by @Oregonian

Officials have yet to identify the cause of the 170,000-acre Holiday Farm fire that ripped down the McKenzie River valley starting Labor Day. (1/9)

But residents told @Oregonian that the blaze was preceded by a power outage, a loud explosion and a shower of blue sparks from an electric line near milepost 47 on Oregon 126 – the exact location where state officials have pinpointed the start of the fire. (2/9)

Kris Brandt, like many who lived among the area’s Douglas fir forests, could hear the towering trees snapping all around him as roaring winds raced downriver for hours. (3/9)

His home on Caddis Lane in the community of Blue River suddenly lost electricity about 8:15 p.m. on Sept. 7, he said. Then came the sound of a violent blast — far different than any tree falling. (4/9)

“I would have guessed it was a transformer exploding but I can’t confirm,” he said, later adding that he thinks power should have been cut earlier because of high winds and dry conditions. (5/9)

After alerting neighbors and spotting fire crews descending upon the area, he went to the end of his street and began filming. (6/9)

The video, shot at 8:58 p.m. and reviewed by @Oregonian, is among the first to capture the growing blaze that’s since leveled hundreds of homes and left at least one person dead in its wake. (7/9)

WATCH:
(8/9)

Brandt’s account and proximity to where officials say one of Oregon’s largest wildfires started may provide clues about its cause, which remains under investigation.

Read the full story: trib.al/o2qego6 (9/9)

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