The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office has lifted all evacuation advisories in southern Wasco County as a result of a fire that was sparked by Sunday night’s lightning strikes. Antelope had been under initially Level 3 and then Level 2 advisories, while Shaniko had been in Level 1. The Sheriff’s Office says the fire is now 90% contained. The grass fire started Sunday evening, with dry lightning going through the area. It has burned 631 acres.
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Smoke To Be Expected Along I-84 In Microwave Tower Area
Smoke can be seen from the cliffs along Interstate 84 in the area of the Microwave Tower Fire, but officials say it is nothing to be alarmed about. Brandon Cichcoski, a Special Operations Chief for both the Microwave Tower and Whisky Creek fires, says there will be small smokes in that area for a while, but the terrain is such they aren’t going to send personnel in to put them out. He notes the smokes are withing containment lines, and will burn out naturally. He says the smokes are most notable to westbound traffic on Interstate 84. Cichoski says people who see these smokes as they go through the fire area on Interstate 84 do not need to call 9-1-1. Fire crews know they are there, and are monitoring to ensure they don’t grow. The Microwave Tower Fire remains at 89% containment, and is 1,313 acres in size. Officials continue to emphasize the need for the public to stay out of closed areas so suppression activities can continue.
Primary Ballots Due Tuesday In Washington
Ballots need to be postmarked by today (Tuesday) in the Washington state primary election. Washington uses a top-two primary system, in which the top two vote getters in the primaries advance to November’s general election, regardless of party affiliation. Locally, County Commission races only have two candidates except for Skamania County District 2, with seven people seeking to advance to the general election. A number of area state legislative races have three candidates. Most statewide and Congressional positions have a large number of candidates seeking to advance.
Small Barlow Ridge Fire In Mop Up
A small lightning-caused along Barlow Ridge south of Highway 35 and east of Highway 26 in the southwest corner of Hood River County has a line around its perimeter. The Mt. Hood National Forest says the quarter-acre fire is in a mop-up phase. However, forest officials say it will take personnel several days to do patrol and mop up, and get the fire in a contained, controlled status. Fire personnel borrowed a helicopter from the nearby Whisky Creek Fire to drop water on the fire and keep it small. It was first reported early Monday morning, soon after lightning had passed through the area.
Fifty Storage Units Lost In Friday Fire
Fifty storage units burned in Friday’s fire that started in brush behind the Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facility in the vicinity of Webber and River Road in The Dalles. Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue Division Chief Adam Cole says the storage units were a total loss. He added the fire caused more nearby damage as well. Two vehicles were burned at the UPS facility, and there was minimal damage to the grain silo. Cole said the investigation into what cause the fire is still underway, with the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Oregon State Police involved in that. The fire started on Friday afternoon, with crews from MCFR, the Oregon Department of Forestry, U.S. Forest Service, Oregon State Fire Marshal, and Wasco, Hood River, Klickitat, Sherman, Skamania, and Clackamas counties working into Saturday morning to extinguish the fire. Law Enforcement agencies from the region assisted and were prepared to evacuate NORCOR if needed.
Evacuation Advisories For Microwave Tower Fire Reduced
The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office on Monday morning reduced the lone remaining Level 2 evacuation advisory for the Microwave Tower Fire to Level 1, and all other advisories were lifted. 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 has been dropped from Level 2 “Get Set” to Level 1 “Be Ready.” Containment of the fire west of Mosier moved up to 89%, with the size 1,311 acres. Northern Rockies Complex Management Team 2 Special Operations Chief Brandon Cichowski says they still have open line along the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail. The Sheriff’s Office did point out that the Highway Trail and some marked trails in Hood River County remain closed due to fire operations. There has been an increase in recreational activity along these trails causing conflicts with heavy machinery. The Sheriff’s Office says when this happens, fire suppression work must be stopped for safety reasons.
Evacuation Advisory For Antelope Drops To Level 2
The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office has reduced the evacuation advisory for Antelope as a result of a fire sparked by lightning in southern Wasco County on Sunday evening from Level 3 to Level2. The Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center says crews made good progress overnight on the Bennett Fire, and this morning put its size at 631 acres. The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office says there is also a Level 1 “Be Ready” evacuation advisory for Shaniko. The grass fire started Sunday evening, with dry lightning going through the area. The Shaniko Schoolhouse was opened as a Red Cross shelter. The Sheriff’s Office says Washington Family Ranch, where a Young Life Camp is located, is not threatened by this fire. Washington Family Ranch and Clairno are still without power, but it should be tonight.
Whisky Creek Fire Up to 1,174 Acres
The Whisky Creek Fire six miles southeast of Cascade Locks on the Mt. Hood National Forest has grown to 1,174 acres. Helicopters poured water on the west edge of the fire where it slowly retreats downhill into the Herman Creek basin, below Wooly Horn Ridge. Northern Rockies Complex Management Team 2 Special Operations Chief Brandon Cichowski said also the fire moved to the southeast, toward a hand line that has been established. Primary indirect lines are still being built and secondary line reinforced. Cichowski says some resources are being moved from the Microwave Tower Fire to the Whisky Creek Fire.
Brush Fire In The Dalles Spreads Into Storage Units (as of 7 p.m. Friday, August 2)
Firefighters continue to work on a fire in The Dalles in the area of Webber Street and River Road that started in brush but spread into a storage facility.
Hood River County Emergency Manager Charles Young, who has been serving as a public information officer for this incident, says the fire started in brush behind the Norther Oregon Regional Correctional Facility, and in high winds moved into the storage units just to the east.
Young says the wildland portion of the fire has been contained, with several spot fires extinguished, but work to quell the fire in the storage units will take well into the night, as crews go unit to unit, and often are cutting holes into the roof.
He said the storage units are the only structures impacted by the fire.
Hood River County Sheriff Matt English said NORCOR has continued to operate as normal, but officers have been on standby should evacuations be required.
Crews from Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue, Hood River, Dallesport, the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Mosier, and the Oregon Department of Forestry have been involved in the firefighting effort.
There is no cause of the fire determined at this time.
The Dalles Public Works says firefighting activities resulted in increased flow rates of water in the City water mains. It is possible that these increased flow rates within the mainline pipes may stir up accumulated rust and sediments from within the pipes which may cause the water in the downtown areas to look cloudy or discolored.
As the fire emergency subsides, flow rates within the City water system will return to normal. Any discolored water that customers may experience should be readily cleared by flushing your pipes before consumption. Although discolored water won’t make you sick, you might want to flush your pipes for several minutes before drinking or washing.
If the water does not clear, please contact the Public Works office at 541-296-5401, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., after hours (541) 980-7703.
Evac Levels For Microwave Tower Fire In Place For The Weekend
Evacuation levels are going to remain in place in the area of the Microwave Tower Fire through the weekend. Wasco County Sheriff Lane Magill said in a statement that after reviewing the current situation Friday morning, the decision was made based on the weekend weather forecast and ongoing activity of first responders within the fire perimeter. Magill says he and fire command will reassess the situation on Monday. 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 locations are in Level 1 and remain in that status. Interior firing operations within the fire perimeter were successful on Thursday, and along with continued mopping up along the fireline the containment level moved up to 84% today. Fire size remains steady at 1,311 acres. The fire line along the northeastern edge of the fire has been improved. The Central Cascades Interagency Management Team says crews Friday were continuing to monitor the entire fire’s perimeter to ensure the continued security of lines, extinguishing hot spots where accessible, and working to increase containment from Old Highway 30 to Interstate 84. With hot and dry conditions, residual pockets of vegetation will continue to burn producing visible smoke and potential flames. Drivers are asked to use caution on Interstate 84 as firefighters are still working in the area. The Columbia River Highway State Trail remains closed, and Elder Road has reopened to local traffic only.