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.
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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.
Evacuation Advisories Lifted For Big Horn Fire
The Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office has rescinded all evacuation levels in the Big Horn Fire area. All roads including Alderdale Rd are now open as well. The Sheriff’s Office advises there are fire crews in the area providing mop up, so motorists are asked to stay clear and drive carefully around the areas where they are located. Containment of the 50,061 acre fire has reached 68%. The Southeast Washington Interagency Incident Management Team says crews will continue to monitor for any smoke or hotspots on the interior fire and will mop-up those areas as needed. They also continue to demobilizing resources, sending some home to rest while others will be reassigned to different fires.
Families In The Park Returns Thursday
The Families In The Park free concert series returns for the 41st year this month in Hood River’s Jackson Park. Concerts are planned for 7 p.m. every Thursday for the first four Thursdays of August. The Hood River Lions Club and the Gorge Community Foundation are putting on the shows with the help of a number of local sponsors. Mike Schend of the Lions Club started Families In The Park while with Hood River County School District Community Education, and he says the goal is the same as it was the first year. Hit Machine will be this week’s performers. Food vendors will be on site.
Light Rain Helps Moderate Microwave Tower Fire Behavior
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.
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.