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The Dalles Council Affirms CUP For Development At Old Griffith Building

Posted on by mbailey

The Dalles City Council unanimously affirmed a municipal planning commission decision to approve a conditional use permit to allow a proposed mixed-use multi-family development at the site of the former Griffith Motors building on 523 East 3rd Street to be 60 feet high.  That planning commission decision was appealed by a nearby property owner who said City codes require an application for a building in the Central Business Commercial District above 55 feet to go through a variance process.  But City land use attorney Chris Crean said the code the appellant referred to was only if an applicant sought administrative approval, but going through the CUP process allows up to 75 feet.  This project could come before the Council again for a different issue.  Community Development Director Joshua Chandler told the Council an appeal was filed on Monday regarding the parking requirements for the facility that would have 110 apartment units above first floor commercial uses.

 

SE Washington Type 3 Team Takes Command Of Big Horn Fire

Posted on by mbailey

A Southeast Incident Management Type 3 Team has taken command of the Big Horn Fire near Bickleton in eastern Klickitat County.  The fire that started Monday afternoon just after 1 p.m. is now estimated to have burned 13,800 acres.  It is burning in grass, brush, sage, and juniper and is threatening infrastructure, residential and agricultural lands, and a natural gas plant.  The Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office says a Level 3 evacuation notice is in place from East Road to Sand Ridge Rd to the East and Alder Creek south to the Columbia River, and today an additional Level 3 noticed was issued for north of Alder Creek, west to Crider Valley, and east to Peterson.  There is a Level 2 “Get Set” advisory for Middle Rd to the west, Coleman Rd to the north, and the Klickitat County Line to the east.  And a Level 1 “Be Ready” notice is in place for north of Coleman Rd to Stegeman and Van Horn, west to East Rd, and east to Klickitat County Line.  The fire cause is currently under investigation.

 

Lone Rock Fire Still At 40% Containment

Posted on by mbailey

The Lone Rock Fire southeast of Condon remains at 40% containment, having burned 131,407 acres.  Firefighters continue to build direct control lines on the eastern edge of the fire, while also proceeding with burnout operations to connect existing lines west of Spray in Alder Creek and along Lone Rock Road.  Point protection will continue along Highway 19 while crews work to ensure any unburned areas no longer pose a threat to structures in the area.  Burning operations will continue along the western fire perimeter to improve and connect control lines.

Evacuations Order For Fire Near Mosier

Posted on by mbailey

The Oregon Department of Forestry says firefighters from ODF’s The Dalles Unit are being aided by Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and local fire departments in battling the blaze that started west of Rattler Ridge just west of Mosier.  What ODF is calling a very large airtanker has been ordered to help on the fire, which was reported at 4 p.m. this afternoon. A task force of fire engines and a dozer from the Larch Creek Fire in south Wasco County are being diverted to assist on the fire. I-84 currently remains open. 

The fire is burning in grass and timber, pushed eastwards by strong westerly winds of 30 to 35 miles per hour. Earlier this afternoon it was estimated at 100 to 150 acres. Cause is not known at this time. 

The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office has issued Level 3 and Level 2 evacuation orders.

 

Level 3 “Go Now” is in effect from Hwy 30 south to Proctor Rd., east to Huskey Rd and the border of the City of Mosier and west to the Hood River County line.

LEVEL 2 – GET SET to evacuate for the city of Mosier and from Huskey Rd. east to Mosier Creek Rd., and south to Jasper Ln.

 

The gymnasium at the Hood River Middle School is a designated Red Cross Shelter for those evacuating the fire in Mosier.

 

Whisky Creek Fire Leads To Closures

Posted on by mbailey

Campgrounds, trails, and trailheads in the vicinity of a fire about five miles southeast of Cascade Locks have been closed.  The Mt. Hood National Forest reports the Whisky Creek Fire started Saturday morning in the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness, and in spite of a helicopter dropping water on it, excessive heat help the fire grow to 165 acres.  The fire is burning in dense, west-side forest with a thick understory of dead and down wood.   A local Type 3 Team has taken over management of the fire.  The Mt. Hood National Forest and the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area are issuing a joint emergency closure for the fire area, including the Rainy Lake, Black Lake, and Wahtum Lake Campgrounds, and the Indian Springs, Warren Lake, Wahtum Lake, Mt. Defiance South, Wyeth, and Herman Creek Trailheads, plus a number of trails.  In addition, Hood River County is closing public access to the Kingsley Day Use Area and Campground Monday at 5:00 p.m., as fire crews will be staging in the area.  Kingsley Rd. above the 2800 forestry Rd., Dead Point Rd above the 2800 forestry Rd. and Green Point Rd. will also be closed.  The cause of the fire is from human activity and is currently under investigation.  The public is reminded that fire restrictions are in effect and campfires are prohibited across both Mt. Hood National Forest and Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area lands.

Hood River Watershed Group Working On Two Restoration Projects

Posted on by mbailey

The Hood River Watershed Group is doing two restoration projects this summer, which will be underway through the end of August.  One project is the third phase of Neal Creek habitat restoration, this time on Hood River County forestland.  The project will enhance two miles of Neal Creek by returning a section of the creek to its historic channel length and adding approximately 680 pieces of large wood to the channel, mostly with a helicopter, resulting in the reconnection of over 20 acres of floodplain.  Project partners include the Watershed Group, Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs, and Hood River County.  A second project will enhance approximately 3/4 of a mile of instream habitat on Baldwin Creek, improve passage to approximately two miles of stream, and reconnect up to 11 acres of floodplain.  A new stream simulation culvert will help create a roughened channel to eliminate a passage barrier at a diversion dam.

Transit Pass Available To Downtown The Dalles Residents & Workers

Posted on by mbailey

Mid-Columbia Economic Development District, which operates The Link Public Transportation, and the City of The Dalles have partnered to offer a free 12-month Gorge Transit Pass to residents living in and employees working in The Dalles’ Central Business Commercial zoning district.  The Dalles Downtown Transit Pass Program offers free transit passes to eligible employees and residents, encouraging the use of public transit, helping with congestion and parking, and contributing to a more sustainable and livable community.  The pass provides unlimited rides on The Link Public Transit fixed routes and the regional transit system throughout the Gorge, including the Columbia Gorge Express to Portland.  Passes are valid for one year after redemption. To learn all the details on how the program works, eligibility and benefits, and how to apply, visit https://gorgetransit.com/tddowntown/.

Larch Creek Evacuation Levels Lifted

Posted on by mbailey

The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office said Monday morning that all evacuation advisories for the Larch Creek Fire in southern Wasco County have been dropped.  That after the Oregon Department of Forestry on Sunday said containment of the Larch Creek Fire in southern Wasco County was at 81%.  Size of the fire is 18,286 acres.  A local Type 3 Team assumed command of the fire over the weekend as ODF’s Incident Management Team 2 demobilized.  Crews identified areas with remaining hot spots and formed a plan of action to achieve the remaining containment needs and begin perimeter patrol.  There may be times when smoke is visible as crews dig out hot spots.

Lone Rock Fire Now At 40% Containment

Posted on by mbailey

The Lone Rock Fire southeast of Condon is now at 124,556 acres in size, with containment now 40%.  Cooler temperatures and increased cloud cover on Sunday gave firefighters an advantage in securing portions of the south end of the fire.  Crews are looking to secure indirect line with firing operations on the east side of the fire.  Firefighters will also be working directly on the fire’s edge from near Burton Hill south to the Umatilla National Forest boundary.  Incident Commander Ian Yocum told a community meeting in Fossil over the weekend that firefighters have saved a lot of homes, but other had been lost.  He will added that it will be a while until officials can get into those locations and do a complete damage assessment.

Pavement Work Planned In The Dalles Next Week

Posted on by mbailey

City of The Dalles crews and contractors next week will apply fog seal to all streets that received chip seal treatment last month.  These fog seal projects will require short duration road closures between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at each location.  Detours will be in place during work hours.  A complete list of streets involved is available at thedalles.org.  Fog sealing is an asphalt emulsion sprayed on to a pavement surface.  The emulsion is diluted to a proper consistency to obtain complete coverage of the roadway, and extends the life of chip seal treatments.

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