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Expected High Winds To Test Lines On Burdoin Fire

Posted on by mbailey

Complex Incident Management Team Northwest 13 says containment of the 11,160 acre Burdoin Fire has moved up to 13%, as crews prepare for a critical day with conditions similar to when the fire started last Friday afternoon. 

Team 13 meteorologist Matthew Dehr expects sustained winds of 20 miles per hour and gusts to 35 to test firelines.  He adds the one thing working in fire crews’ favor today is relative humidity bottoming out at around 25%, short of red flag criteria.

Fire Behavior Analyst Dean Warner says it adds up to a critical day in the firefighting effort, with the fire currently cornered, but the high winds will test their lines.

Jesse Stone with Team 13 Field Operations says they’ve made good progress in closing the final gaps in lines around the fire perimeter.  He adds everything looked good on the south side of the fire along Highway 14, and the line from Catherine Creek to Major Creek has been completed. 

Tactical firing operations on Wednesday closed the final gaps in lines around the fire perimeter, but officials emphasize it will take time to fully contain the fire.   Active burning, including isolated torching, is still taking place in many areas of the fire.  Due to terrain and fuels in some areas of the fire, extensive work remains to reach a point where the threat of fire escaping its boundaries is significantly reduced.

Klickitat County Emergency Management announced this morning that Highway 142 has been reopened, but emergency personnel will still be working in the area.  Motorists are asked not to stop on the road, and if fire activity changes it could be closed again at any time.  Highway 14 remains closed between Bingen and Lyle, as does Old Highway 8, and the Centerville Highway from Highway 14 to Schilling Road. 

There are currently 846 personnel assigned to the fire, with 86 engines, seven dozers, eighteen hand crews, and five helicopters dedicated to the fire.

Team Northwest 13 has also assumed command of the 52-acre Snyder Canyon Fire that started yesterday near Klickitat.  Klickitat County Emergency Management reports there are still some Level 3, 2 and 1 evacuation advisories in the vicinity of that fire.  Maps are available on the Klickitat County Emergency Management’s Facebook page.  Dehr noted winds are not forecast to be as strong at the Snyder Creek Fire location, sustained at ten miles per hour with gusts to 20.

Naramore Named New MCCAC Director

Posted on by mbailey

The Mid-Columbia Community Action Council has selected Leslie Naramore as the agency’s Executive Director.  Naramore has been the agency’s Interim Executive Director since Kenny LaPoint stepped down from the position in February of this year.  MCCAC Board Chair Joan Bird says Naramore led the organization through transition, prioritizing support of staff while ensuring uninterrupted programming to the community, while also leading the agency’s response to unexpected needs, including during severe winter weather and in the aftermath of the Rowena Fire.  Naramore has eleven years of professional experience in local community action and non-profit management, including more than seven years serving as the Executive Director of MCCAC’s counterpart in Klickitat and Skamania Counties, Washington Gorge Action Programs.  Mid-Columbia Community Action serves Hood River, Wasco and Sherman counties.

Hood River County Fair Starts Wednesday

Posted on by mbailey

The Hood River County Fair gets underway Wednesday at the Fairgrounds in Odell.  One of the attractions of any fair is the food, and newly hired fair manager Stacy Sullivan says this year there will be more of it than usual, with the number of vendors up by fifteen from last year.  Old favorite Godfrey the Magician is back, along with Juggle Mania, Not Your Average Joe Balloon Guy, and JUMP! The Ultimate Dog Show.  Wednesday evening features the 4-H Style Show beginning at 6:30.  Saturday’s concert is headlined by country star Drew Baldridge at 8:15 at the Wy’east Grandstand.  Tickets are available at hoodriverfairgrounds.com.

Work Continues On Burdoin Fire

Posted on by mbailey

          Crews on the 10,730-acre Burdoin Fire Monday worked in the Catherine Creek drainage while an interagency hotshot crew scouted potential lines to tie in to Major Creek.

           Complex Incident Management Team Northwest 13 also reported progress on the east side of the Klickitat River with a combination of dozer and hand lines.

           On the northwest edge of the fire, a combination of hand and dozer line is holding, making it a secure point for ground crews to engage the fire.

          The Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office did announce an evacuation level change on Monday afternoon from Doug’s Beach east along Highway 14 to Horsethief Lake north have been reduced to Level 2…while all other evacuation levels have not changed. 

          Klickitat County Emergency Management says Highway 14, Highway 142, Old Highway 8, and Lyle-Snowden Road in the fire footprint remain closed to the public due to rocks and other debris rolling downhill, falling trees, hot spots, and downed power lines.

          The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic has issued a closure order for Catherine Creek Recreation Area, Coyote Wall Trailhead, Balfour-Klickitat, Lyle Trailhead, Klickitat Milepost 1, and Klickitat Wild and Scenic River.

          The Red Cross emergency shelter in White Salmon has been moved to Grace Baptist Church at 1280 East Jewett.

          A second shelter remains at The Dalles Middle School.

          Klickitat County officials say they are working to visually confirm the number of structures damaged or destroyed.

          Individual property owners will be contacted directly by a county official.

          Fire officials over the weekend reported 37 primary structures having been damaged, and 14 destroyed.  Thirty other minor structures were listed as destroyed, and 50 damaged. 

          The County adds there have been no fatalities have been confirmed, and no individuals are known to be unaccounted for.

West 6th Concrete Pouring Starts

Posted on by mbailey

Concrete will be poured on the West side of West 6th Street in The Dalles beginning today for new curbs, driveways and sidewalk.  Crestline Constrution crews will be starting near the 6th St Station and working their way north.  The entrance between 6th St Station and KFC will be closed along with Snipes Street while the work takes place.  Further north many businesses have had multiple entrances allowing for continued access during this phase of work but will be reduced to a single entrance/exit as the concrete requires a minimum of a 3-day cure time.  The Holiday Inn and Franz Bakery entrance will be done in a 50/50 manner allowing guests and employees to access the hotel.  Bi-Mart and Spookys share four entrances, of which two will be open while the other two will be closed.  The project is expected to take two weeks.  The current lane shift in front of Bi-Mart will remain in effect as installation of the 36” storm line towards Hostetler continues.

Fire Restrictions In Place On Forest System Lands

Posted on by mbailey

Due to ongoing hot and dry conditions, public use fire restrictions have been implemented on National Forest System lands throughout the Columbia Gorge, including the National Scenic Area, the Mt. Hood National Forest, and the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.  All campfires, charcoal or briquette fires, pellet fires, or any other open fires are prohibited including in developed campgrounds.  Portable cooking stoves, lanterns, and heating devices using liquefied or bottled fuel, such as propane, are allowed as they can be switched off instantly.  Smoking is prohibited except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a designated campground, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that cleared of all flammable material.  Fireworks and other explosive devices are prohibited on national forests all year long.

Bridge Condition Assessment Set To Start July 28

Posted on by mbailey

Engineering crews will be conducting a coating condition assessment of the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge on various dates between July 28 and September 10 between 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  The first set of scheduled dates are Monday through Friday of next week, then August 4 to August 6.  Later in the month, the assessment will continue for two weeks starting August 25, with work continuing for a portion of a third week.  The assessment will evaluate the condition of the bridge’s protective coatings as part of routine maintenance planning.  Traffic impacts are not anticipated, though minor delays may occur if unforeseen conditions arise.

SBA Offering Loans To Offset Rowena Fire Losses

Posted on by mbailey

The U.S. Small Business Administration announced the availability of low interest federal disaster loans to small businesses, private nonprofits and residents to offset physical and economic losses from the Rowena Fire.  The declaration covers Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Wheeler, and Klickitat counties.  Businesses and nonprofits are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.  Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans and may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, and up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.  Applicants may be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes.  The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for aquaculture enterprises.  SBA customer service representatives will be at the Gloria Center in The Dalles on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and appointments are available at appointment.sba.gov.  To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster.  Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955.

Providence To Hold Mass Casualty Drill

Posted on by mbailey

Providence Hood River’s Emergency Department will hold a mass casualty drill on July 31 at Jackson Park.  The scenario will be a bus crash involving adolescents, made up with fake wounds and blood.  Elements of the drill will include triage, trauma team response, hospital command center activation, and first responder participation.  Emergency vehicles will transport the kids to the hospital’s emergency room.  Hospital spokesperson Susan Frost says they are trying to get the word out to the community the drill will take place to avoid people seeing it and thinking that it is a real accident, and spreading misinformation on social media.  The mass casualty drill will take place on July 31 at 10 a.m.

Complex Management Team Taking Command Of Burdoin Fire

Posted on by mbailey

The Burdoin Fire was active once again on Sunday, growing to 10,730 acres.

Complex Incident Management Team Northwest 13 assumed command of the fire this morning.

They report the fire is primarily moving to the north and northeast in steep terrain.  Multiple scooper aircraft and helicopters are supporting ground work with strategic water drops to cool the fire’s forward edge.

The Columbia River is the aircraft’s primary water source, and recreationalists should be extra cautions between the Port of The Dalles and White Salmon.

Fire officials say a slop over on Lyle Snowden Road was halted Sunday, and overnight tactical ignition operations around a spot fire to the east were successful.

Crews are continuing today to work in the Catherine Creek drainage while an interagency hotshot crew scouts potential lines to tie in to Major Creek.

On the northwest edge of the fire, a combination of hand and dozer line is holding, making it a secure point for ground crews to engage the fire.

Cooler temperatures and higher humidity are helping to moderate fire behavior, but it is still burning actively.

Evacuation levels have not changed.  The Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office and Klickitat County Emergency Management are continuing discussions to develop a plan on when and how to coordinate allowing residents back into the burned area. For up-to-date information on closures and reopening follow their Facebook page or website.  The two agencies are discussing a plan on when and how to coordinate allowing residents back into the burned area.

The Red Cross emergency shetler in White Salmon has been moved to Grace Baptist Church on 1280 West Jewett, while a second shelter at The Dalles Middle School remains open.

Highway 14 remains closed from mile marker 66, east of Bingen to mile marker 76, west of Lyle. Other closures include Highway 142 from Highway 14 north to mile post 5, and Centerville Highway from Highway 14 to Centerville, Snowden Road at Bill Moore, the Snowden cutoff, Four Corners, and Sleepy Hollow.

The Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office and Klickitat County Emergency

Fire officials over the weekend reported 37 primary structures having been damaged, and 14 destroyed.  Thirty other minor structures were listed as destroyed, and 50 damaged. 

Officials reported one firefighter was transported to a hospital on Saturday for treatment of an undisclosed injury.

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