Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue says residents should expect heavier smoke from the Grasshopper Fire Monday afternoon as temperatures climb, humidity drops, and fire activity increases. The wildfire has burned more than 10,700 acres. Crews from the U.S. Forest Service, Oregon Department of Forestry, and Oregon State Fire Marshal continue working to contain the fire. Firelines built to protect Pine Hollow and Wamic continue to hold. Firefighters and structure protection teams will remain in both communities Monday, monitoring conditions, improving defensible space, and standing by to respond if fire activity picks up. Level 3, or “Go Now,” evacuations remain in effect for Sportsman Park, Pine Hollow, Wamic, and the Grasshopper Advisory Zone in the Mount Hood National Forest. Level 2 evacuations remain in place for Smock Road, White River Crossing, Badger Creek, Shadybrook Road, and Tygh Valley. Level 1, or “Get Ready,” evacuations continue from Forest Road 27 to Friend Road and from Elliott Road to Highway 197. A closure remains in effect for parts of the Mount Hood National Forest. An evacuation shelter is open at South Wasco High School in Maupin, and large animals can be taken to the Sherman County Fairgrounds in Moro.
Category: Uncategorized
Progress Made On Fires
Firefighters continue making steady progress on the 8-Mile Fire west of Dufur. The Oregon Department of Forestry says the fire started Friday along Eightmile Road, about five miles west of Dufur, an has burned 532 acres. The fire was 35 percent contained as of Sunday, and officials expect that number to continue climbing. There is also good news for residents near the 4,834-acre 10 Mile Fire. Evacuation levels have been reduced as fire conditions improve. Areas that had been under Level 3, or “Go Now,” are now at Level 2, “Be Set.” Former Level 2 areas have been lowered to Level 1, “Get Ready,” and previous Level 1 evacuations have been lifted. South Junction Road has also reopened. Meanwhile, the much larger Little Buck Fire in the Haycreek Complex has grown to more than 33,000 acres. Level 3, or “Go Now,” evacuations remain in effect for Shaniko, Antelope, Clarno, Bennett Road, Young Life, and Highway 97 from Shaniko to the Sherman County line. Level 2 evacuations continue from Upper Tubs Road to Cold Camp Road.
Man Arrested In Reception Shooting
A Hood River County Sheriff’s deputy and another person escaped injury after shots were fired during an investigation at a wedding reception in Odell early Sunday morning. Deputies say they responded just after midnight to reports that a man had threatened to shoot someone at a wedding on Summit Drive before leaving the scene. While a deputy was interviewing the person who reported the threat, investigators say a suspect stepped out of a nearby orchard and fired several shots toward the deputy and the witness, then ran back into the orchard. No one was hit, and the deputy moved people at the wedding to safety behind nearby vehicles. Police later stopped a vehicle in Wasco County and arrested 29-year-old Abraham Delgado Bucio of The Dalles on multiple felony charges. Authorities allege he had threatened people at the wedding and later tried to shoot one of them, but the gun failed to fire. Delgado Bucio made an initial appearance in Hood River County Circuit Court on Monday morning, with cash bail set at $2,500.
Hood River Officials Happy With Court Ruling
Hood River municipal officials are applauding a ruling by a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last week that a city ordinance governing short-term rentals is constitutional. The ordinance requires a home intended for short-term rentals to be occupied as the primary residence of the owner or a local tenant under a lease for 12 months or longer. Some out-of-state owners of vacation homes argued Hood River’s ordinance discriminated against them and favored local homeowners. Mayor Paul Blackburn says it was important that the ordinance be upheld, noting it has led to more long-term residences and prevented a larger jump in STR’s in Hood River. Once the residency requirement is met, the owner or long-term local renter is then eligible to lease the home to short-term tenants.
The Dalles Taking Apps For Local Government Academy
The City of The Dalles is now accepting applications for its 2026 Local Government Academy. The free program gives residents an inside look at how city government works through presentations, facility tours, and discussions with city staff and elected officials. Participants will learn how city departments operate, how decisions are made, and how to get involved through elected office or service on city boards and commissions. The academy meets Wednesday evenings from September 9th through October 28th. To apply, you must live within The Dalles city limits, be at least 18 years old—or be a nominated high school student—and be available to attend all sessions. Applications are due by Friday, August 14th. More information and the online application are available at thedalles.gov/LGA.
CGCC Looks To Fill Board Vacancy
The Columbia Gorge Community College Board of Education is looking to fill a vacant board position representing Hood River County. The appointed board member will serve the remainder of the term through June 30, 2027. Anyone interested must be a qualified district elector living in Hood River County. To apply, submit a letter of interest outlining your qualifications to the Columbia Gorge Community College President’s Office by August 17. For more information, contact the President’s Office at Columbia Gorge Community College.
MCCAC Opens New Playground At The Annex
Mid-Columbia Community Action Council is celebrating the opening of a new playground at The Annex, its housing-focused shelter for families experiencing homelessness. The playground was made possible through donations from Google in The Dalles, Granite Construction, and The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company. It features age-appropriate play equipment, secure fencing, and a separate dog relief area, giving children a safe place to play while their families work toward permanent housing. Since The Annex opened in August of 2023, the family units have remained at full capacity. During that time, 85 children have stayed at the shelter, and 41 have moved with their families into long-term housing. MCCAC officials say the new playground provides children with a sense of normalcy during a difficult time and supports the organization’s mission of helping families transition into stable, permanent housing.
Fireworks-Related Brush Fire Under Investigation
A fireworks-related brush fire near The Dalles is under investigation after quick action by neighbors and first responders kept the flames from spreading. Mid-Columbia Fire & Rescue says crews were called just after 2:30 Thursday morning to the intersection of Five Mile Road and Highway 197 following reports of a fire and people shooting fireworks into dry grass along the roadside. A nearby resident, along with deputies from the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office and the Oregon State Police, was able to stop the fire’s forward spread before firefighters arrived to quickly extinguish the remaining flames. During the investigation, firefighters found two Roman candles near the burned area. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Mid-Columbia Fire & Rescue Fire Marshal at 541-296-9445.
Two Arrested In Hood River After Motorcycle Stop
A traffic stop in Hood River led to multiple felony arrests after officers say they found weapons, suspected drugs, and a concealed firearm. The Hood River Police Department says an officer stopped a motorcycle Wednesday after the rider allegedly ran a stop sign and was driving without registration plates. Police say the driver and passenger immediately began passing items back and forth after pulling over. During a search, officers say they found brass knuckles, two loaded magazines hidden in specially made pockets, a small amount of a white powdery substance, and two unidentified pills on the driver. Police also recovered a loaded handgun from the passenger, exactly where the initial officer had directed responding officers to search. Investigators say the driver is a convicted felon, and the passenger did not have a concealed handgun license. Both suspects were booked into the Northern Oregon Regional Corrections Facility on multiple charges, including felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of ammunition, felon in possession of a restricted weapon, unlawful possession of a concealed firearm, and tampering with physical evidence.
Southern Wasco County Evacuation Levels Reduced
The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office has reduced the evacuation advisories related to a pair of fires in southern Wasco County. There is now a Level 2 “Get Set” evacuation advisory for Antelope and for both sides of Highway 293 from milepost 4 to milepost 8. Shaniko remains at Level 2. The National Interagency Fire Center puts the size of the Deadman Canyon Fire about six-and-a-half miles west of Antelope at 5,000 acres, while the Incident 432 wildfire between Shaniko and Antelope was over 400 acres in size. Highway 293 from Highway 97 to Antelope is closed.