The Microwave Tower Fire area west and south of Mosier was receiving some light rain Monday, which should help moderate fire behavior. Fire officials say there will still be a chance for low to moderate fire behavior, with smoke impacts to Interstate 84 and surrounding communities. The fire has reached the freeway, so if driving through the area use caution as firefighters and aircraft are working in the area. Crews are installing hose around the fire and utilizing water to further secure the north side of the fire, which has been the most problematic, and patrols continue on the southern edge. Containment of the fire remains at 53%, while its size was updated Monday morning to 1,306 acres. The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office says evacuation levels in place Sunday remain unchanged on Monday. A Level 2 “Get Set” evacuation advisory was added Sunday from the Hood River/Wasco County border south to the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail, west to the intersection of Highline Road and Old Columbia River Drive, and north to the Columbia River as work continues to contain the Microwave Tower Fire. A transfer of command from the Great Basin Interagency Incident Management Team to the Central Cascades Interagency Management Team took place Monday morning.
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Cloud Cover Limits Whisky Creek Fire Growth
Officials for the Whisky Creek Fire in the Mount Hood National Forest’s Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness say cloud cover, increased humidity, and light precipitation today should limit growth of the fire and minimize smoke production. The forecasted rain is not expected to impact the fire, which is at 891 acres in size with no containment. Crews continue to prepare containment lines and clear roads and trails to the south along the Rainy-Wahtum Trail #409 from Rainy Lake to Wahtum Lake and continuing to the Pacific Crest Trail approximately one mile to the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire burn area. Crews are clearing thick brush along roads with the assistance of masticators to create fire breaks. To the east of the fire, crews continue to strengthen containment lines working toward Hood River County Forestry’s Kingsley area. The Forest Service announced Sunday that aerial fire retardant has been approved for use in the Mount Hood National Forest to battle the Whiskey Creek fire. Chemicals could be dropped in and around the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness area’s boundary within the national forest. Aerial retardant drops are usually prohibited in areas designated for protected species, cultural resources or waterways, but can be used to protect valuable resources such as old-growth forests and habitat for endangered and threatened species. Management of the fire has been transitioned to the Central Cascades Interagency Management Team.
Horsethief Lake Park Reopens
Horsethief Lake State Park reopened Monday morning after it was closed due to a nearby fire that broke out on Saturday. The National Interagency Fire Center put the size of the Cloudville Fire west of Horsethief Lake at 259 acres. Klickitat County Emergency Management says all evacuation advisories were lifted as of Monday morning. In addition, all roads and parks in the vicinity of the fire area are open.
Mop Up On Big Horn Fire Continues
With Sunday’s cooler, but windier conditions, crews on the Big Horn Fire in eastern Klickitat County will continue to mop-up hot spots and will be working to improve already constructed containment lines and increase the percentage of containment. Overnight operations over the weekend had a night of cooler temperatures with minimal winds. Crews worked on several hot spots in the Alder Creek and Pine Creek drainages. Nighttime operations bring the ability to better visualize some areas of smoldering fuels. Unmanned Aviation Support is being used to help provide infrared analysis of different areas of the fire, and help firefighting crews locate areas of high heat and threats to containment lines. The Klickitat County Emergency Management Department announced late Sunday afternoon that Level 2 evacuation advisory areas had been downgraded to Level 1, and areas previously in Level 1 had their advisory removed. Containment is at 52%, and the fire is 50,061 acres in size.
Lone Rock Fire Containment 77%
Containment of the 137,221-acre Lone Rock Fire south of Condon has now reached 77%. Fire officials say the fire continues to hold within containment lines but their work is not over yet. The firefighting effort is currently focused on mop up to ensure the fire remains within containment lines, patrol to find heat and have firefighters on hand to extinguish any visible smokes near containment lines, hazard tree removal along road systems, and chipping of cut debris. Fire managers from Southwest Team 2, a Complex Incident Management Team from Arizona and New Mexico, began arriving Monday to assume command of the fire Wednesday morning.
Safe Space Fundraiser To Help Bring In Mental Health Providers For Children
Safe Space Children’s Advocacy Center of the Gorge will host its annual Summer of Hope dinner & live music benefit on August 10 at The Barn in Odell. Safe Space, which does child abuse assessment for five counties in the Gorge, recently moved into its new home on 206 Wasco Loop in Hood River. Safe Space Executive Director Beatriz Lynch says this fundraiser is focused on their effort to bring mental health providers in house. Tickets for the fundraiser are $50, or two for $90. It starts at 6 p.m. August 10 at The Barn on 4050 Central Vale Drive in Odell. To purchase tickets and for more information, go to safespacecac.org.
Microwave Tower Fire At 53% Containment
The Microwave Tower Fire five miles west and southwest of Mosier is now at 53% containment, while the size is now at 762 acres. The Great Basin Interagency Incident Management Team and the Oregon Department of Forestry said Friday that most of the southern fireline is now contained. On the northeast side, successful firing operations are helping secure lines, and firefighters will continue them today, utilizing the dozer line, the Columbia River Highway State Trail, and rocky areas, tying it in with the fire that has already reached the trail, securing it all the way from east to west. Fire officials say the operations will increase smoke and may make flames visible. The fire is showing low to moderate activity with creeping, smoldering, and backing downslope toward containment lines. The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office said that evacuation levels would remain in place today.
Whisky Creek Fire At 856 Acres
The Whisky Creek Fire within the Mt. Hood National Forest’s Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness is now at 856 acres in size. The Great Basin Interagency Incident Management Team and the U.S. Forest Service says crews made progress on preparing containment lines to the south of the active fire area, while heavy equipment was brought in to assist with clearing roads and creating fuel breaks reopening a contingency line from the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire. The fire is burning within the Mt. Hood National Forest’s Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness and moving steadily along the eastern edge up Woolly Horn Ridge and west towards Waucoma Ridge. Moderate upslope growth is expected to continue around the fire’s edges with a potential for wind to push to the south. Smoke will continue to be visible, particularly in the afternoon, as fire consumes denser pockets of vegetation and dead-and-down fuels.
Crews Making Progress On East End Of Big Horn Fire
Additional resources have arrived to help with suppression efforts on the Big Horn Fire in eastern Klickitat County. The Southeast Washington Interagency Management Team said today containment remains at 21%, with the size of the fire now at 49,063 acres. Highway 14 from Roosevelt to Alderdale Road remained closed, as the fire did reach the highway. Today’s weather brought lower temperatures, lower winds, and an increase in relative humidity, aiding suppression efforts. Evacuation levels remain in effect. Fire officials have confirmed four structures have been damaged, but didn’t have any other details on what kind of buildings they were.
Lone Rock Fire At 45% Containment
Containment of the 136,561 acre Lone Rock Fire south of Condon has moved up to 45%. Northwest Team 2 officials say crews were successful on Thursday at keeping the fire within its existing footprint and continued to focus on patrol and mop-up operations. Today’s focus is on continuing to mop-up and patrol existing line across the fire area, as well as further securing the spot fires on the east and west sides of the fire perimeter. Crews are evaluating the unburned pocket of fuels on the west side of the fire and may conduct strategic firing operations if necessary.