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Level 3 Evacuation Announced For Sportsman’s Paradise & Shellrock Road; Tygh Valley & Fairgrounds Road Drop To Level 1

Posted on by mbailey

The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office has issued a Level 3 “Go Now’ evacuation order for Sportsman’s Paradise and Shellrock Road.

Wasco County Sheriff Lane Magill says the Grasshopper Fire is holding along the established lines on the northeast side and has not breached containment, but due to weather conditions, limited community access, and the challenging terrain, the evacuation status for those locations was moved to Level 3.

A shelter is now being opened at The Dalles Middle School.

A large animal shelter is available at the Sherman County Fairgrounds in Moro.

Aircraft today has been actively dropping retardant in that area to strengthen contingency lines protecting nearby communities from the Grasshopper Fire.

An Oregon State Fire Marshal’s task force, in coordination with the Sheriff’s Office, is currently working in the Shellrock Road area.

Additionally, the OSFM Blue Incident Management Team is arriving to support the unified response.

The Sheriff’s Office also said evacuation advisories for Tygh Valley and Fairgrounds Road have been downgraded from a Level 2 to a Level 1 – Be Ready.

The Sheriff’s Office advises residents to use caution returning to the area. Be aware of fire crews and law enforcement on roads. Look for road closures and downed power lines.

Grasshopper Fire Grows; Containment Still 23%

Posted on by mbailey

Officials say the Grasshopper Fire continued to grow steadily yesterday and overnight to nearly 63,700 acres, while containment lines along the southern and eastern portions of the fire held.  The containment figure this morning remained at 23%.  On the northern perimeter, firefighters worked to slow the fire’s advance near Fivemile Creek and Fifteenmile Creek.  Crews also continued monitoring the Highway 35 corridor, where containment lines remain secure.  In the southwest, firefighters began direct suppression efforts in the Bennett Creek area.  Today, crews will focus on strengthening containment and contingency lines, working to keep the fire south of Dufur Valley Road, and west of High Prairie. Crews will continue securing and monitoring lines along Highway 35.  In the southwest, firefighters will continue direct suppression where conditions allow.  A community meeting is scheduled for Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. at Dufur School.  Highway 35 remains closed between Bennett Pass Snow Park and Baseline Road.

Progress Being Made On High Lava Fire

Posted on by mbailey

The Gifford Pinchot National Forest over the weekend expanded an emergency closure around the High Lava Fire in southwest Washington.  The fire is estimated at 1,500 acres, burning northwest of Stabler and west of the Trapper Creek Wilderness.  Jacob Welsh with High Lava Fire operations says they are making good progress.  He says the fire is confined to a triangle between three Forest Service road systems:  Forest Service Roads 54, 34, and 37.  The closure includes several trails and trailheads, including West Crater, Soda Peaks and Siouxon, as well as all trails in the Trapper Creek Wilderness.  It also covers the Canyon Creek dispersed camping area and several nearby roads.  All motorized and pedestrian access is prohibited.  The closure is scheduled to remain in effect through October 31st, unless lifted sooner.

 

Three Fires In Clackamas Ranger District

Posted on by mbailey

Firefighters are responding to three fires on the Clackamas Ranger District of the Mount Hood National Forest. 

The Mitchell Fire, near Shellrock Lake, is estimated at 10 to 15 acres.  A helicopter dropped water on the fire yesterday, and smokejumpers hiked into the wilderness to assess and begin building fireline.  Two additional crews are working on hose lines.  Several areas are closed, including Forest Roads 5830 and 4610-240, Hideaway Lake Campground, and Shellrock Campground. Lake Harriet remains open. 

The Austin Fire is burning on steep slopes north of Forest Road 46, west of Forest Road 4630.  Helicopters are dropping water, and additional firefighting resources have been ordered.  An accurate acreage estimate is not yet available because of smoke and fire growth.  Forest Road 46 is closed between Forest Roads 63 and 466, along with Forest Roads 5720 and 5710.

The Narrows Fire is estimated at about five acres.  The fire is in steep terrain with hazardous snags, making access difficult for ground crews.  Helicopters continue making water drops, and officials say the fire is currently threatening very little.

Grasshopper Fire Update For Saturday Morning (August 8)

Posted on by mbailey

As of this morning, the Grasshopper Fire has burned about 54,223 acres and is now 23 percent contained.

Officials say southern containment lines continued to hold, while crews monitored and patrolled the area.

Firefighters made good progress on the northeast side, building line around the “tear-drop” spillover. That area did not grow. The fire did grow overnight on the northeast side, which was expected with the windy conditions.

To the west, the fire reached Highway 35 in several locations, as planned, but has not crossed the road.  Winds did push the fire across the containment line near Bennett Pass, adding several hundred acres.

Today, crews are concentrating on the northeastern edge, working to keep the fire south of Dufur Valley Road and west of High Prairie.

Firefighters are also working to establish Highway 35 as the western edge of the fire. In the Bennet Pass area, crews are preparing additional indirect fire lines along nearby forest roads.

The big concern today is the weather. Red Flag conditions are in effect through midnight, with very dry fuels and hot, windy conditions.

A cold front is expected late this afternoon, bringing wind gusts of up to 20 miles per hour. Westerly winds will likely push smoke into areas east of the fire.

No Growth On Grasshopper Fire

Posted on by mbailey

There was no growth reported on the Grasshopper Fire, and no change in containment.  Acreage remains at 43,244, with containment still at 23%.  California Complex Incident Management Team 6 Operations Section Chief Anthony Rapoza says the fire remained east of Highway 35, and a shift of winds to the west will help push the fire into itself.  There is a Red Flag Warning in effect for the fire area into late Saturday night with hot conditions and strong west winds.  The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office issued a Level 2 “Get Set” evacuation advisory for Sportsman’s Paradise, South Valley Road and north of Rail Hollow Road.  After Saturday, temperatures are forecast to go down and humidity to go up.  Crews Friday will focus on direct suppression efforts along the northern and western perimeters while reinforcing containment along the west side of the incident.

Crews Make Progress On High Lava Fire

Posted on by mbailey

Firefighters on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest are making steady progress on the High Lava Fire burning in the Canyon Creek area, strengthening containment lines along the north and west sides of the fire.  Officials say the small spot fires that developed along Forest Road 54 earlier this week have now been secured.  Although the fire grew significantly Thursday, it remains within planned containment boundaries.  Firefighters say west winds could increase fire activity.  Crews are continuing strategic burnout operations along Forest Road 54, working from west to east to remove fuels ahead of the fire’s path.  As the fire slowly advances toward Forest Road 34 and the West Crater Trailhead, firefighters are extinguishing spot fires and reinforcing containment lines with additional defensive firing operations.  More firefighting resources are on the way, including interagency hotshot crews, Type 6 fire engines, and specialized drones to support suppression and containment efforts.

Air Quality Index Numbers Fall

Posted on by mbailey

Air Quality Index numbers are decreasing in the Hood River Valley after spiking back up during the early morning hours.  As of 2:30 p.m., monitors around Hood River and Odell were showing readings in the low 100’s.  The AQI at Parkdale Elementary School was above 1200 early this morning, but was down to 101 by this afternoon.  Readings in The Dalles area in the afternoon had dropped below 100, while in the Stevenson-Cascade Locks area AQI’s are down around 100.  The Hood River County Chamber of Commerce announced that First Friday activities scheduled for this evening have been cancelled due to air quality concerns, and The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce postponed a planned ribbon cutting at a community mural on 901 East 2nd to Tuesday afternoon at 4 p.m.  Air quality index information is available at smokereadygorge.org.

Wind Shifts Reduce Intensity At West End Of Grasshopper Fire

Posted on by mbailey

Grasshopper Fire officials say wind shifts have reduced fire intensity along the west perimeter, creating favorable conditions to further strengthen containment lines along the Highway 35 corridor.  The containment figure for the fire has inched up to 23%, while acreage has increased to 43,244.  Crews have made steady progress tying together northwestern and northeastern control lines, while on the western flank work continues to improve long term control of the fire’s northwest corner.  Firefighters Thursday will reinforce suppression efforts near Pine Creek and across the northwest corner of the fire, as hot and dry conditions persist with westerly winds forecast for the next several days.  With structural triage complete, the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s remaining task force will demobilize and return to their local communities.

AQI Numbers Decreasing In Hood River Valley

Posted on by mbailey

Air Quality Index numbers are decreasing in the lower Hood River Valley after spiking back up during the early morning hours.  As of 11 a.m. Thursday, monitors around Hood River were showing readings back down in the 200’s, still hazardous to health but down from being in the 400’s and 500’s a few hours ago.  But in Odell the readings were still between 281 and 441, and the AQI at Parkdale Elementary School was at 1156.  Readings in The Dalles area were in the 200’s, while in the Stevenson-Cascade Locks area AQI’s have dropped below 200 as west winds begin to blow.  The Hood River County Health Department advises people to limit their smoke exposure by closing windows and doors, staying indoors, or relocating to a cleaner air space.  Run an air conditioner, HEPA filter, or DIY air filter to clean your indoor air.  If you must go outside, a properly fitted N95 mask can help, and avoid outdoor physical activity.  Smoke is expected to decrease in the Gorge as winds shift to the west into tomorrow, with strong west winds expected over the weekend.  Air quality index information is available at smokereadygorge.org.

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