The Whisky Creek Fire in the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness six miles of southeast of Cascade Locks is now listed as 288 acres in size with no containment. That as the Type 1 Great Basin Type 6 team takes command of fire operations Wednesday. The focus of work is on scouting along the Pacific Crest Trail and the area around the fire looking for opportunities for crews to safely access the fire. Fire officials say no impacts are expected to the PCT as this time, although wildfire conditions can always quickly change. Work will also continue to strengthen a contingency line to the north of the fire along the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire burn area. Moderate upslope growth is expected around the fire’s edges with thinner vegetation at higher elevations moderating fire behavior. Smoke will continue to be visible as fire consumes denser pockets of vegetation and dead-and-down fuels. A community meeting on this fire will held Thursday evening at 7 p.m. at the Port of Cascade Locks Marine Park Pavilion.
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Lone Rock Fire Still At 40% Containment
The Lone Rock Fire southeast of Condon remains at 40% containment, with the size edging up to 134,752 acres. Firefighters on Tuesday worked on the eastern side of the fire perimeter to build control lines from Burton Hill to the south, with steep terrain continuing to pose challenges for control. Crews also carried out firing operations and structural protection on the southern portion of the fire. On the northern portion of the fire, crews continued to patrol the fireline with no change in fire activity in that area. A Red Flag Warning is in effect today for the fire area, with the chance of lightning and thunderstorms particularly to the southeast of the fire perimeter.
Big Horn Fire At 13,800 Acres
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, with containment at 1% It is burning in grass, brush, sage, and juniper and is threatening infrastructure, residential and agricultural lands, and a natural gas plant. Evacuation levels were added Tuesday afternoon by the Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office to include new Level 1 areas, additional Level 2 locations, and expanded Level 3 areas adjacent to the fire perimeter. Officials say that was instituted as a precautionary measure to improve notifications to residents and citizens if conditions change. An updated may is available on Klickitat County Emergency Management Facebook page. The fire cause is currently under investigation.
Lone Rock Fire Still At 40% Containment
The Lone Rock Fire southeast of Condon remains at 40% containment, with the size edging up to 134,752 acres. Firefighters on Tuesday worked on the eastern side of the fire perimeter to build control lines from Burton Hill to the south, with steep terrain continuing to pose challenges for control. Crews also carried out firing operations and structural protection on the southern portion of the fire. On the northern portion of the fire, crews continued to patrol the fireline with no change in fire activity in that area. A Red Flag Warning is in effect today for the fire area, with the chance of lightning and thunderstorms particularly to the southeast of the fire perimeter.
Progress On Microwave Fire Continues
The Oregon Department of Forestry says moderate fire behavior allowed for further progress on the Microwave Tower Fire Tuesday as crews worked to secure more of the fire’s east end with hand line, dozer line, and water drops from helicopters and other air resources. More accurate mapping has sized the fire at 704 acres The fire continued to back down on a north facing ridge along I-84 just west of Mosier and will likely do so through today. Smoke can be observed along the highway. Last night, crews worked towards hooking in line with hand crews and dozers along the eastern and southern edges of the fire footprint while structural firefighters continued to assess and further secure homes. The Type 1 Great Basin Team 6 is assuming command of the fire this morning. The incident command post will be at Hood River Valley High School. Public information officers with the team will receive inquiries about both the Microwave Tower fire and the nearby Whisky Creek Fire. Evacuation levels established on Monday night remain in place. There is an estimate of 100 homes that are under Level 3 evacuations and 500 residences threatened in the Mosier area. The gymnasium at the Hood River Middle School is a designated Red Cross Shelter for those evacuated.
Recount Does Not Change Result Of Wasco County D.A. Election
A recount of the vote for Wasco County District Attorney found absolutely no change from the initial ballot count in the May 21 election. County Clerk Lisa Gambee said 70 boxes totaling 6,795 ballots were hand counted over the last two days. When they were done, Kara Davis still had 3,166 votes and Travis Marston 3,106. Gambee said observers for both candidates were present for the process. Marston had requested the recount, and his campaign will be paying for the cost of it. The May 21 result did not have the one-half of one percent margin necessary for an automatic recount. Davis will take the position in January from current D.A. Matthew Ellis, who was unopposed in May for the same job in Hood River County.
Microwave Tower Fire At 591 Acres; Evac Levels Stay In Place
The size of the Microwave Tower Fire west and south of Mosier is now at 591 acres.
Oregon Department of Forestry Public Information Officer Andy Dwyer said during the night firefighters were able to make good progress on the southern end of the fire, but the most challenging area is west of Mosier as the fire backs down toward Interstate 84 in difficult terrain and steep slopes.
Dwyer adds air resources have played a critical role in helping slow the fire’s spread.
The Type 1 Great Basin National Team currently managing the Whiskey Creek Fire southeast of Cascade Locks will assume command of this fire from the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Central Oregon District on Wednesday morning.
An incident command post will be setup at Hood River Valley High School.
The Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office has sent two strike teams and three task forces to provide structural protection.
The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office says evacuation orders will remain in place into Wednesday morning. 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 advisories have been issued for the city of Mosier and from Huskey Rd. east to Mosier Creek Rd., and south to Wilson Road. A Level 1 “Be Ready” advisory is in place from Mosier Creek Rd., east to Dry Creek Rd., north to the City of Mosier border and south to Osborn Cutoff Rd. The gymnasium at the Hood River Middle School is a designated Red Cross Shelter for those evacuating the fire in Mosier.
The Hatfield Scenic Trails have been closed due to the fire.
ODF is investigating the cause of the fire.
Mitchell Appointed To Vacant Hood River Council Seat
Current Hood River City Planning Commissioner Ben Mitchell was selected after three rounds of voting to fill the vacant seat on the City Council. Mitchell was selected in a third vote after he and Amanda Goeke were tied in the first two rounds from among five candidates to fill the remaining two-and-a-half years of the late Tim Counihan’s term, and was chosen by a 4-2 vote after a final question about the strengths each would bring to the panel. Mitchell said one of his motivations to serve on Council is to help make Hood River a more affordable place to live. Mitchell will be sworn in at the Council’s August meeting. Mitchell’s position on the Planning Commission will now need to be filled by the Council.
The Dalles Council Affirms CUP For Development At Old Griffith Building
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
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.