Columbia Gorge CASA, court-appointed special advocates for children, will hold its latest series of volunteer training sessions in September.  CASA provides trained and supported volunteers to advocate for children in foster care.  CASA Executive Director Susan Erickson says there are more than 140 kids in foster care in Wasco, Sherman, and Hood River counties, and they need more volunteers to help.  CASA volunteers receive a combination of hands-on and online training over a five-week period.  Erickson says the time commitment for volunteers is five to ten hours per week.  For more information call Columbia Gorge CASA at 541-386-3468 or go online to gorgecasa.org.

Lines on the Westcliff Fire northwest of Hood River near Westcliff Drive between Interstate 84 and the Columbia River held overnight.  The Hood River County Sheriff’s Office this morning lowered evacuation levels associated with the fire, with Westcliff Lodge and Charburger reduced to Level 1 (Be Ready) and open for business, while the rest of Westcliff Drive between Interstate 84 exit 62 and Ruthton Park is no longer under an evacuation advisory.  Christie Shaw of the Oregon Department of Forestry says the fire is primarily in a mop-up mode, and if works goes well that should be complete by the end of today’s shift.  The fire is estimated to be just over six acres in size, which Shaw emphasized is the result of more accurate mapping, not growth.

The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce has hired someone to fill its newly created Director of Tourism position.  Chamber CEO Lisa Farquharson says Dave Nevins has a background in tourism promotion and non-profits.  She adds Nevins is an avid cyclist and runner, and has ran those types of events.  Farquharson says one of the first orders of business will be to get Nevins up to speed on regional tourism promotion efforts currently underway.

The Port of Hood River has completed installation and started to operate security cameras on the Interstate Bridge.  Port Executive Director Michael McElwee says the cameras look across the bridge from the liftspan and toll plaza, and there are also cameras under the bridge.  McElwee noted those cameras would have been helpful when an alleged allision a couple of years ago resulted in damage to one of the bridge piers.  The bridge cameras will also help with traffic control and vandalism prevention.

Good progress was made overnight on fires in South Gilliam County.  Cool weather with some precipitation allowed firefighters to get ahead of the fires in many areas.  Wildland firefighters will continue to hold and improve existing containment lines on the fires today, and work to stop the forward progress of the fire on the active sides.  Air support continues to be available to maximize efforts of crews on the ground.  Firefighters will continue to be challenged by light flashy fuels, steep slopes along the John Day River Canyon and afternoon winds.  The Stubblefield and Seale fires now total 30,500 acres with 20% containment.  There are 119 firefighters on the incident.  A Type 2 Incident Management Team will be integrated in a unified command with the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Blue Team by Tuesday morning.

      The Oregon Department of Forestry reports firefighters from the Department of Forestry, Hood River and Mosier have stopped the forward progress of the Westcliff Fire, located northwest of Hood River near Westcliff Drive, between Interstate 84 and the Columbia River. They are working to strengthen the firelines and starting to mop-up fuels near the existing line. The evacuation levels have dropped. As of 5pm, Westcliff Lodge and Charburger are level 2 (get set) and open for business. The rest of Westcliff Drive between Exit 62 and Ruthton Park are level 1 (ready). The fire was reported just after midnight, spreading from a structure into the wildland. The fire is burning in a rugged area of cliffs, making firefighter access difficult. Steep terrain on the east flank of the fire, with large trees and snags and significant woody material on the ground is a safety concern for firefighters working below as rolling debris moves downslope Resources include structural and wildland engines and structural tenders. Also, a Type 1 helicopter has been dropping water on the difficult east flank of the fire. A Type 3 helicopter was using a bucket to drop water on hot spots. The Hood River County Sheriff’s Office emphasizes that drones are not allowed in the area with helicopters in the air. Union Pacific has closed the railroad lines north of the fire. Firefighters are working to establish containment lines near the tracks. The fire is estimated at less than 5 acres Updates on evacuations can be found on the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.  

The Hood River County Sheriff’s Office has reduced evacuation levels associated with the Westcliff Fire.  Westcliff Lodge and Charburger have been reduced to Level 2 (Get Set) and are open for business.  The rest of Westcliff Drive between Interstate 84 exit 62 and Ruthton Park was decreased to Level 1 (Be Ready). The Oregon Department of Forestry reports firefighters from the Department of Forestry, Hood River and Mosier have stopped the forward progress of the Westcliff Fire, located northwest of Hood River near Westcliff Drive, between Interstate 84 and the Columbia River. They are working to strengthen the firelines and starting to mop-up fuels near the existing line. The fire was reported just after midnight, spreading from a structure into the wildland. The fire is burning in a rugged area of cliffs, making firefighter access difficult. Steep terrain on the east flank of the fire, with large trees and snags and significant woody material on the ground is a safety concern for firefighters working below as rolling debris moves downslope Resources include structural and wildland engines and structural tenders. Also, a Type 1 helicopter will be dropping water on the difficult east flank of the fire. A Type 3 helicopter will be using a bucket to drop water on hot spots. The Hood River County Sheriff’s Office emphasizes that drones are not allowed in the area with helicopters in the air. Union Pacific has closed the railroad lines north of the fire. Firefighters are working to establish containment lines near the tracks. The fire is estimated at less than 5 acres. Cool temperatures, low wind and increased humidity helped moderate the fire overnight, but rising temperatures and gorge winds could increase fire activity this afternoon. . Updates on evacuations can be found on the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.

    Firefighters from the Oregon Department of Forestry, Hood River and Mosier are working to control the Westcliff Fire, located northwest of Hood River near Westcliff Drive, between Interstate 84 and the Columbia River. Level 3 (go now) evacuations are in effect for all of Westcliff Drive west of the Columbia Gorge Hotel, but not including the Hotel. Residents of Westcliff Drive were sent to the Wal-Mart parking lot. Westcliff Drive is closed to the public in that area. The fire was reported just after midnight, spreading from a structure into the wildland. The fire is burning in a rugged area of cliffs, making firefighter access difficult. Steep terrain on the east flank of the fire, with large trees and snags and significant woody material on the ground is a safety concern for firefighters working below as rolling debris moves downslope Resources include structural and wildland engines and structural tenders. Also, a Type 1 helicopter will be dropping water on the difficult east flank of the fire. A Type 3 helicopter will be using a bucket to drop water on hot spots. The Hood River County Sheriff’s Office emphasizes that drones are not allowed in the area with helicopters in the air. Union Pacific has closed the railroad lines north of the fire. Firefighters are working to establish containment lines near the tracks. At last report, the fire was estimated at 5 acres. Cool temperatures, low wind and increased humidity helped moderate the fire overnight, but rising temperatures and gorge winds could increase fire activity. Updates on evacuations can be found on the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.

Oregon Department of Forestry, Hood River Fire Department, and Mosier Fire crews are continuing to work on containing the Westcliff Fire near Westcliff Drive northwest of Hood River between Interstate 84 and the Columbia River. The fire was reported late Saturday night, spreading from a structure into the wildland.  Currently the fire is estimated at approximately five acres.  Cool temperatures, low wind, and increased humidity moderated fire behavior through the night and this morning, but rising temperatures and gorge winds will increase fire behavior today The fire is burning in a rugged area of cliffs, making firefighter access difficult.  Steep terrain on the east flank of the fire, with large trees and snags and significant down woody material is a safety concern for firefighters working below as rolling debris moves downslope. A Type 1 helicopter was to arrive today to focus on getting water on the east flank of the fire, while a Type 3 helicopter was doing bucket drops on hot spots. Union Pacific has closed the railroad lines north of the fire as a precaution.  Firefighters are working near the tracks to establish containment lines The Hood River County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed the fire claimed one home, and a Level 3 evacuation advisory remains in place for Westcliff Lodge and homes to the west on Westcliff Drive.

    Starting this Monday and continuing through Thursday, August 30, the Hood River City Public Works crew will be resurfacing some city streets with a chip seal overlay. During this period, vehicles must not be parked on these streets between the hours of 7am and 5pm. Vehicles left in the work zone will be towed at the owner’s expense. The streets are: Prospect, from 2^nd St. to 8^th St.                                                                                 Montello, from 2^nd St. to Park St.                                                                                 8^th St. from Montello to May St.                                                                                   9^th St. from Montello to May St.                                                                                Hull St. from 10^th St. to 12^th St.                                                                                       C St. and 21^st St. to 22^nd and May St. If you have questions or concerns, contact Marlo Messmer at (541)387-5201.