Firefighters continue to work on a fire in The Dalles in the area of Webber Street and River Road that started in brush but spread into a storage facility.

Hood River County Emergency Manager Charles Young, who has been serving as  a public information officer for this incident, says the fire started in brush behind the Norther Oregon Regional Correctional Facility, and in high winds moved into the storage units just to the east.

Young says the wildland portion of the fire has been contained, with several spot fires extinguished, but work to quell the fire in the storage units will take well into the night, as crews go unit to unit, and often are cutting holes into the roof.

He said the storage units are the only structures impacted by the fire.

Hood River County Sheriff Matt English said NORCOR has continued to operate as normal, but officers have been on standby should evacuations be required.

Crews from Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue, Hood River, Dallesport, the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Mosier, and the Oregon Department of Forestry have been involved in the firefighting effort.

There is no cause of the fire determined at this time.

The Dalles Public Works says firefighting activities resulted in increased flow rates of water in the City water mains.  It is possible that these increased flow rates within the mainline pipes may stir up accumulated rust and sediments from within the pipes which may cause the water in the downtown areas to look cloudy or discolored.

As the fire emergency subsides, flow rates within the City water system will return to normal.  Any discolored water that customers may experience should be readily cleared by flushing your pipes before consumption.  Although discolored water won’t make you sick, you might want to flush your pipes for several minutes before drinking or washing.

If the water does not clear, please contact the Public Works office at 541-296-5401, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., after hours (541) 980-7703.