Crews had a good day on the Memaloose 2 Fire Sunday.
All level 3 (go now) evacuation areas have been lowered to level 2. That affects the intersection of Highway 30 and Marsh cutoff east to the bottom of the Rowena Loop, including both sides of Highway 30, Rowena Dell, Rowena Overlook, Canyon Way and down to Rowena Ferry Road. Evacuation updates can be found on the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. Interstate 84 reopened to two lanes of traffic eastbound. Highway 30 is open with no restrictions. Marsh Cutoff and Dell Road are open to local traffic only as fire suppression efforts continue there. The eastbound Memaloose Rest Area remains closed.
Crews were challenged Sunday by “burning rollers” and “flaming snags” that at times carried fire into pockets of unburned fuels within the firelines. Those areas were quickly attacked, using available aircraft as needed. Crews will focus on strengthening containment lines and mop-up activities today.
Some crew members are beginning to leave as the conditions improve
The latest GPS mapping shows the fire at 167 acres, with containment at 50%. No structures have been damaged or destroyed by the fire.
The fire was reported late Friday evening burning near the eastbound Memaloose Rest Area, south of I-84 about 3 miles east of Mosier. The cause is under investigation.