The containment level for the Microwave Tower Fire west of Mosier jumped up to 79% this morning, and the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office downgraded the evacuation advisory for one nearby area. The evacuation advisory for the area from the border of Hood River and Wasco County, south to the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail, and west to the intersection of Highline Road and Old Columbia River Drive, and north to the Columbia River, has been reduced from Level 2 to Level 1. The only remaining area on Level 2 is from Highway 30 south to Hood River Road, east to Rock Creek and Huskey Road, and west to the Hood River County line. Other Level 1 locations remain in that status. The fire did not grow in the last 24 hours, remaining at 1,311 acres. The focus of fire crews in recent days has been on the north side of the fire. Central Cascades Interagency Management Team Special Operations Chief Colby Burtalatto says there are still visible smokes in that area, but there are no issues for containment lines, Interstate 84, and the railroad tracks. The Columbia River Highway State Trail remains closed, and Elder Road has reopened to local traffic only.
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Whisky Creek Fire Stays At 891 Acres
The north side of the Whisky Creek Fire in the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness has backed into the Eagle Creek Fire burn scar, slowing its progression. The fire is 891 acres in size, with no containment. Central Cascades Interagency Management Team Special Operations Chief Colby Burtalatto says on the east side of the fire, crews are working on an indirect fire line on the 408 trail, prepping it with handline and sawline along with a hose lay, bringing it into the 409 trail to tie it into the Pacific Crest Trail to the south. Crews are also working on contingency lines from the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire if lines closer to the fire do not hold, tying them in at Mitchell Point. Those could be used for a burn operation over the weekend, which would increase the amount of smoke visible from Hood River. The fire is 891 acres in size, with no containment.
Notice Of Intent Filed For Solar Project East Of Grass Valley
The Oregon Department of Energy has received a Notice of Intent from a company looking to develop a solar power project east of Grass Valley. Brookfield Renewable U.S. made the filing for the solar power facility that would be coupled with a battery energy storage system that the company says would allow it to generate about 900 megawatts of energy, making it one of the largest solar projects in Oregon. It is proposed to be located near the Oregon Raceway just outside of Grass Valley, next to an existing transmission line. The company says that would eliminate the need for additional transmission lines to reach the grid. The company also says the design of the solar arrays will be in “ribbons” along the edges of fields to protect existing agricultural and wildlife corridors, allowing continued agricultural use of the land. Brookfield Renewable U.S. is based in New York City, and has hydropower, wind, solar and energy storage facilities in 34 states. The Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council has not set a timeline for proceeding with the notice of intent. Brookfield has set up a website for the Sherman County project at speedwaysolarproject.com.
Personal Use Huckleberry Picking Permits Available For Pinchot
Personal use huckleberry permits are now available for the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. A free-use permit for personal consumption is available to remove up to one gallon of berries per day, and a total of three gallons per year. Berries obtained with a free-use permit cannot be sold. The permits are available only online through the Gifford Pinchot National Forest website. Print the permit or save it to your mobile device, along with conditions for use, and a map of the locations open to free-use berry collection. Some areas of the Pinchot are closed to huckleberry collection, including the Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, all legislated wildernesses, and the “Handshake Agreement” area of the Sawtooth Berry Fields, which is reserved for Yakama Nation members. Commercial use permits will be available at the Trout Lake Ranger District office beginning on August 12.
Evacuation Levels Reduced For Microwave Tower Fire
The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday afternoon some reductions to evacuation advisories as a result of the Microwave Tower Fire. The area from Highway 30 south to Hood River Road, east to Rock Creek and Huskey Road, and west to the Hood River County line was reduced from Level 3 to Level 2. The City of Mosier from Rock Creek, east to Mosier Creek Road, south to the intersection of Huskey Road and Ponderosa Place and Blanchard Boulevard, and west to Rock Creek was lowered from Level 2 to Level 1, as was the area from the Hood River County border in the west, east to Huskey Road, southwest to the intersection of Huskey and Elder Road, and north to just south of Hood River Road. All other evacuation levels are unchanged. Containment has remained at 53% for a few days now, but Central Cascades Interagency Management Team Public Information Officer Paul Brooking says that will change as lines are widened. No growth was reported, even though the size of fire was increased to 1,311 acres due to more accurate mapping. Firefighters are continuing mop-up on the northwestern side of the fire, while water tenders and engines will be utilized on the northeastern side to put water on areas with heat.
Crews Take Advantage Of Cool Weather On Whisky Creek Fire
Crews on the Whisky Creek Fire in the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness took advantage of a break in fire activity brought on by cool, wet weather to continue work on contingency lines along the area south of the fire. Fire activity is expected to increase in the next few days as hot and dry conditions return to the area. The fire is 891 acres in size, with no containment. Central Cascades Interagency Management Team Public Information Officer Paul Brooking says with the complexity in dealing with the fire, it will take a long time to fight it. Brooking says it will probably take a season-ending event like heavy rains to fully extinguish the fire.
The Dalles Night Out Event Set For Tuesday
The Dalles Police Department and the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office will host a National Night Out event this Tuesday evening in The Dalles City Park. The Dalles Police Sgt. Tyler Caldwell says this is the second year they’ve held a Night Out event. The Hood River County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police, Hood River Police, Northern Wasco PUD, National Guard, Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue, and Google will be all represented. There will also be a number of food vendors there. It begins at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in The Dalles City Park. Similar events are planned on Tuesday at 5:30 on the Klickitat County Courthouse lawn in Goldendale and at 6 p.m. on Vancouver Avenue in Stevenson near the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office.
Big Horn Fire Fully Contained
The Big Horn Fire in eastern Klickitat County is now fully contained. The Southeast Washington Interagency Team said this morning they have transitioned oversight of the fire area back to local jurisdictions. Crews on Tuesday completed securing and checking containment lines, and were demobilized, with some personnel going home to rest while others were reassigned to different fires. Acreage did increase to 51,569 acres, but that was due to better mapping thanks to unmanned aircraft flights and utilization of satellite imagery in the area of Whitmore Road. The fire perimeter remains unchanged. All evacuation levels have been removed, and all roads in the fire area are now open.
Crews Make Progress On Microwave Tower Fire
Officials on the Microwave Tower Fire west and south of Mosier say crews have made excellent progress in building and securing lines. Firefighters were able to build direct line to Interstate 84. Tuesday, mop up along the northwestern and northeastern lines was continuing, with aircraft dropping water as needed to contain those lines. Crews were also continuing to secure, monitor, and patrol the entire fire perimeter. Officials with the Central Cascades Interagency Management Team says despite Monday’s precipitation fuels remain dry, and interior pockets of unburnt fuel will continue to produce smoke, and flames may be visible. The reported containment of the fire remains at 53%, while its size remains at 1,306 acres. The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office says there is no change in evacuation advisories today for the Microwave Tower Fire area west and south of Mosier. The Columbia River Highway State Trail remains closed, and the Sheriff’s Office is asking people to refrain from using it for the safety of the public and first responders. Hood River Road is also closed due to firefighting efforts.
Rain Temporarily Moderates Whisky Creek Fire
Rain on Monday moderated fire behavior on the Whisky Creek Fire in the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness, but forecasted warmer temperatures and drier conditions alter this week are expected to increase fire activity and smoke production. The Central Cascades Incident Management Team, which took over command of the fire on Monday, says the fire remains 891 acres in size with no containment. Crews continue to prepare containment lines and clear roads and trails to the south along the trail from Rainy Lake to Wahtum Lake, and continuing to the Pacific Crest Trail about one mile to the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire burn area. Masticators are being used to clear thick brush along roads to create fire breaks. To the east of the fire, crews continue to strengthen contingency lines working toward Hood River County Forestry’s Kingsley area.