Investigators continue to sift through the damage from last week’s fire in the Port of The Dalles Marina.  Port Executive Director Andrea Klaas says the number of properties damaged in this fire was less than in a blaze that occurred at the Marina thirteen months ago.  Klaas says investigators brought in by various insurance companies are visiting the site.   Once that is complete the area will be released to the Port to begin cleanup.  Klaas noted a joint fire investigation with all of the parties will take place August 17, and any release of the area to the Port would occur after that date.  

Work to get the Kingsley Reservoir Campground reopened has been slowed by a labor shortage in the Hood River County forestry department.  County Administrator Jeff Hecksel says they have been in the final push phase to get the campground opened, but they have a backlog of detail work that needs to be done, and the loss of a worker has slowed progress.  Hecksel said the tasks include getting fire rings and picnic tables put together and rolling gravel out.  Hecksel could not give an estimate on when the campground will be open.  He did say it’s not out of the realm of possibility that they will unable to open the facility this season.

Work on the Miller Road Fire in south Wasco County began to wind down on Sunday, as task forces and other resources began to be progressively demobilized back to their home agencies.  Containment of the fire Monday morning was listed at 98 percent, while total acreage was adjusted down to 10,847 acres.  Hand crews have been focusing on mop-up operations along the 25 miles of the fire’s perimeter and around structures with the goal of establishing a cold black containment line preventing any lingering interior fire from escaping.  The Northwest Incident Management Team that has been managing the fire will begin demobilizing resources today as the need for fire personnel decreases.  A smaller incident management organization will remain on the fire comprised of two hand crews and engines will take over patrolling the fire and continue mop-up.  Officials stress firefighters will remain vigilant on the fire line as the weather is predicted to become hotter and drier for the next couple of days.  The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday afternoon lifted all evacuation advisories for the fire.

Hood River Police arrested a driver over the weekend after finding drugs and weapons in his vehicle during a traffic stop.  According to a statement from the department, upon making contact with the driver an officer observed signs of impairment and a concealed firearm, and was eventually arrested the person for driving under the influence of a controlled substance.  Further investigation found over 79 grams of cocaine and over 11 grams of methamphetamine.  Along with drug possession charges, the driver is also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, silencer, and brass knuckles.  Scales, vials, and $500 in cash were also seized.  The driver was booked into NORCOR.

Matt Dumolt continued to hold a narrow lead over William Morris for the second spot in November’s general election for Klickitat County Commission position 2.  Dumolt now has 574 votes to 562 for Morris.  Lori Zoller remains the leading vote getter in the four-person race for the two general election spots with 1,044, while Rick Essacson is fourth with 304 votes.  Klickitat County will be releasing a new set of vote counts late today, estimating 264 votes remain to be counted.  The County reports a turnout rate of 49.6 percent for the primary.  In a vote count that may indicate a close race in November, incumbent Sheriff Bob Songer was narrowly leading challenger Garique Clifford, 3,858 to 3,797.  As the only two candidates on the primary ballot, they both will advance to November’s ballot.

The Hood River County School District has shuffled some administrative duties, including making the district-wide athletic director position fully focused on that role and no longer also serving as an assistant principal at Hood River Valley High School.  Current district athletic director Trent Kroll will continue in the position, while the number of assistant principals at the high school will drop from three to two.  In addition, Jennifer Schlosser will transition from an assistant principal at HRVHS to becoming the district’s recruitment and retention specialist.  To fill her spot at the high school, Nate Parson will move from Wy’east Middle School where has been the past four school years to Hood River Valley High School.  The district is currently looking to fill the vacant assistant principal position at Wy’east.

Gifford Pinchot National Forest fire managers have issued restrictions on campfires, smoking, and other activities within the forest starting today.  Prohibitions include building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire, including a charcoal fire and pellet fire on all Gifford Pinchot general forest land and developed campgrounds.  Smoking is prohibited, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a designated campground, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.           Also banned is possessing, discharging, or using any kind of firework or other pyrotechnic device, and operating or using any internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained, and in effective working order.  Portable cooking stoves, lanterns, and heating devices using liquefied or bottled fuel, such as propane, are still allowed as they can be instantly switched off.

Mop up work continues today on the brush fire on the south side of Interstate 84 Exit 87 at the east end of The Dalles that generated a large and quick response by firefighters on Thursday before being brought under control.  Helicopter drops helped bring the fire under control after it started in the mid-morning hours near the railroad tracks south of the freeway.  Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue Chief Bob Palmer estimated the fire to be eight-to-nine acres in size, but there were a number of factors that made it difficult to deal with, including a strong wind, the fire being in a bit of draw between the freeway and the railroad tracks, and spotting.  Palmer noted there was some spotting of the fire along the hillside, but crews were able to catch them quickly and prevent spread.  He added the big concern was the fire spotting into the Columbia View Heights area, but firefighters were able to prevent that from happening.  Palmer said the investigation into what caused the fire is continuing.

The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office says they are downgrading all evacuation levels associated with the Miller Road Fire by one level.  That means the area from Victor Road and Walters Road on the north and south side of Highway 216 to Highway 197 are now at Level 2 “Get Set.”  Tygh Valley, Tygh Valley Road, Fred Ashley Road, Davidson Grade Road, the east side of Highway 197 and all of Oak Spring Road to Highway 216,and Maupin on both sides of the Deschutes River are now at Level 1 “Be Ready.”  Fire officials say the fire is now at 25 percent containment, as light winds and moderate temperatures on Thursday allowed crews to start mop up operations.  The size of the fire is now estimated at 11,186 acres.  Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Incident Commander Scott Magers says they are making a big push to make as much progress as possible before hotter weather arrives during the weekend.  OSFM Operations Section Chief Trainee Mark Corless says crews will continue today to increase mop up operations, with a goal of 100 feet from the fire’s perimeter.  A Type-2 Northwest Interagency Management Team was joining the state fire marshal’s team in a unifed command for the fire.  There are nine task forces, 36 engines, two dozers, and eight water tenders assigned to the fire, with air assets available as needed.

As of August 4 at 5:45 p.m.

Klickitat County Commissioner Pos. 2

Lori Zoller                               851    40.6

Matt Dumolt                           522    24.9

William Morris                        473    22.5

Rick Essacson                         232    11.1

  Skamania County Sheriff

Summer Scheyer                     2,108          45.6

David Waymire                       1,715          37.1

Zach Prosser                            458             9.9

Ryan Cook                              326             7.1

  Congressional Dist. 4

Dan Newhouse ®                     29,681        26.4

Doug White (D)                        28,516        25.4

Loren Culp ®                           23,562        21.0

  Congressional Dist. 3

Marie Glusenkamp-Perez (D)  49,202        31.1

Jamie Herrera-Beutler ®                   36,854        23.3

Joe Kent ®                              34,909        22.2

Heidi St. John ®                      24,808        15.7

  Washington House District 14 Pos. 2

Gina Mosbrucker                    15,774        65.3

Liz Hallock                              4,918          20.4

Chris Faison                                     3,354          13.9

  Washington House District 17 Pos. 1

Terri Niles (D)                         14,421        44.1

Kevin Waters ®                       7,688          23.5

Hannah Joy ®                         6,141          18.8

Anthony Ho ®                        4,454          13.6

  Washington House District 17 Pos. 2

Joe Kear (D)                            14,695        45.2

Paul Harris ®                          9,909          30.5

Earl Bowerman ®                   4,087          12.6

Justin Forsman ®                    3,737           11.5

  Skamania County PUD Commission Pos. 2

Dave McKenzie              843    51.6

Kathleen Fitzgerald        404    24.7

Mary Repar                             383    23.4

  Home Valley Water District Maintenance and Capital Improvement Levy

Yes                                85      62.5

No                                  51      37.5