The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office says six primary residences and 15 outbuildings are known to have been lost in the Grasshopper Fire. In a statement Wednesday, the Sheriff’s Office did not offer further details on the buildings lost, adding while they recognize that information about structural damage is important to the community, damage assessments take a secondary priority while firefighters remain actively engaged in suppressing the fire and reducing immediate threats. Resources across the region, including within Wasco County, remain stretched thin as crews continue responding to the fire and protecting communities. Wasco County Emergency Management Services Manager Sheridan McClellan says 291 homes are currently under a Level 3 “Go Now” evacuation advisory, 1,561 are in Level 2 “Be Set,” and 145 at Level 1 “Be Ready.”
Highway 35 Reopens After Hazard Trees Removed
The Oregon Department of Transportation reopened Highway 35 this afternoon between Hood River and Highway 26 after closing it again this morning to deal with hazard trees along the roadway. Southern Area Incident Management Team 2 Operations Section Chief Jon Wallace says they removed dead snags to make sure trees wouldn’t be falling across the highway on a regular basis. Wallace did ask motorists using Highway 35 to be careful as some crews are still working on the side of the roadway. In addition, some smoke and flame will be visible in a few places, but Wallace says crews are working on those locations.
One Dead, ODOT Worker Critically Injured In I-84 Accident
A deadly crash on Interstate 84 west of Arlington has claimed one life and left an Oregon Department of Transportation employee critically injured. The crash happened Tuesday afternoon at about 2:40 near milepost 123. The Gilliam County Sheriff’s Office says according to the preliminary investigation, an ODOT employee from the Arlington Maintenance Station was helping a motorist change a tire near milepost 122 on westbound I-84. The ODOT vehicle was parked on the shoulder with its amber warning lights activated and an illuminated message board directing traffic into the far lane. Investigators say an approaching vehicle struck the rear of the ODOT vehicle, then hit both the ODOT employee and the motorist. The ODOT employee suffered critical injuries and was flown to a regional trauma center. Officials say the employee remains in critical but stable condition. The motorist died at the scene. The Oregon State Police is investigating the incident.
Trio Of Wildfires On West Side Of Mt. Hood Forest
Several wildfires are burning on the west side of the Mt. Hood National Forest. The Austin Fire is estimated at about 1,000 acres along the slopes of Forest Road 46, east of Forest Road 63. Helicopters have been dropping water since the fire was reported Sunday, with hotshot crews and other firefighters working on the ground. More resources have been ordered. A forest closure is in effect around the fire.
The Mitchell Fire is estimated at 16 acres in the Roaring River Wilderness. Smokejumpers and four ground crews are working the fire, with firefighters having lined more than 25 percent of the perimeter, and officials say fire growth has slowed significantly. Hideaway Lake and Shellrock Lake campgrounds, along with Forest Roads 5830 and 4610-240, are closed.
The Narrows Fire, reported Saturday near the Clackamas River across from Highway 224, is slowly burning in dead trees left from the 2020 Riverside Fire. A helicopter has made multiple water drops. Difficult and dangerous terrain is limiting ground access. An infrared flight estimates the fire at about one-and-a-half acres.
URA Extends Basalt Commons Funding Agreements
The Columbia Gateway Urban Renewal Agency board approved a four-month extension for Improvement Program Grant and Development Funding agreements for the Basalt Commons mixed-use residential and commercial project on the former Griffith Motors site at 523 East 3rd in The Dalles. Developer Mary Hanlon said in a letter to the URA the project is in the final stages of loan development preparation, the General Contractor is finalizing subcontracts, and said those should take about three months. She asked for a six month extension. This is not the first extension for the project, and URA board member and Wasco County Commissioner Scott Hege said it is not abnormal for a development of this size to take time to come together. Hanlon’s letter to the URA projected that demolition of the old building on the property will begin in September, followed by construction.
Gorge Wellness Alliance Returning
The Gorge Wellness Alliance is being reestablished. With a grant from The Roundhouse Foundation, the regional coalition is made up of healthcare providers, community organizations, schools, and local leaders to provide a coordinated approach to suicide prevention. Hood River County Prevention Program Manager Amanda Holste says they have received a small grant to get the group together again. The grant will support work in the schools where they partner with health teachers in presenting the suicide prevention curriculum called “Question, Respond, Persuade.”
MCCAC Continues To Take Donations For Cooling Kits
Mid-Columbia Community Action is continuing to take donations for its cooling kits for those who need them. MCCAC Executive Director Leslie Naramore says their initial drive to start the summer went very well, but demand remains high for the cooling kits. The Center is taking donations of cooling supplies, including bottled water, lip balm, shelf-stable individually-wrapped snacks, electrolyte packets, and sun screen. Donations can be taken to MCCAC locations at 2505 West 7th in The Dalles and 606 State in Hood River. Naramore says they also have N95 masks available for dealing with smoky conditions.
Grasshopper Fire Update (11:50 a.m. on August 12)
Officials say the Grasshopper Fire has burned more than 83,600 acres and is now 20 percent contained. The fire remained active Tuesday along the northeastern and eastern edges, pushed by gusty winds. The northeast corner has reached Hix Road, while the eastern edge is near Elliott Road. Firefighters held the northern perimeter along Forest Road 4421 and continued strengthening lines elsewhere. Activity has moderated along the southern and southwestern edges. Crews today are focused on strengthening control lines, particularly on the eastern side, ahead of stronger winds this afternoon and unstable weather expected this weekend. Air operations will continue as conditions allow. The Southern Area Blue Incident Management Team has replaced a California team and has joined the Oregon State Fire Marshal in a unified command of the fire, with a team from Australia and New Zealand also embedded at the fire. Additional crews and engines from California arrived Tuesday night. About 1,832 firefighters are assigned to the fire. A community meeting is planned for Thursday at 6 p.m. at Dufur School.
Wasco County Fair Canceled
The Wasco County Fair Board decided Tuesday night to cancel the Wasco County Fair and Rodeo due to active fire danger and severe smoke from the Grasshopper Fire.
The decision was made in consultation with Fire Incident Command and the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office.
In a statement posted on social meeting after their meeting, the board said public safety is their top priority.
The statement added they will meet soon to explore possibilities for hosting specific fair events at a later date.
Earlier in the day, County Commissioner Jeff Justesen, who is also a member of the fair board, said they didn’t want to have a situation where they would have to do a last minute evacuation.
City of Hood River Enters Into New Animal Control IGA With County
After a lengthy discussion, the Hood River City Council approved a five-year intergovernmental agreement for animal control services with Hood River County. Councilors spent considerable time talking about whether quality of shelter services the County can provide would be adequate if Hood River Adopt-A-Dog cannot overcome its current fiscal issues with the exhaustion of the Hukari Fund that has helped pay for the shelter’s operation. Councilor Doug Stepina said he was comfortable with the opt-out clauses built into the agreement should the City determine shelter services are inadequate. Under the new IGA going into effect September 1, the City will pay $41,700 in the first year, with a five percent increase each of the following four years of the deal.