A Thursday morning fire in The Dalles claimed the life of one person, and an investigation determined the fire was caused by use of a heat lamp. Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue says the fire occurred just after 8 a.m. Thursday morning at 814 West 18th Street, with crews finding a thick dark column of smoke coming from the home, which was fully involved in the fire. Crews had to focus suppression efforts from a defensive position to protect exposed homes and property in the area due to reports of large explosions at the initial stages of the fire, a potential ammunition storage hazard, and the fully involved structure. An adjacent home also caught fire, but crews wear able to keep the damage limited and the structure is habitable. One victim, whose name has not yet been released, was found deceased at the scene. An investigation by MCFR, The Dalles Police Department, Oregon State Police, and the Oregon State Fire Marshal determined the fire was caused by the use of a heat lamp in the basement sleeping area of the structure. Personnel from MCFR, Dallesport, Dufur, Wy’east and Mosier Fire Departments, the Oregon Department of Forestry, The Dalles Police, Wasco County Sheriff’s Office, and Wasco County Emergency Management were involved in the fire response.
Fire Forces Short Evacuation
Crews in The Dalles responded to a structure fire in the 900 block of West 19th Street on Thursday morning. The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office indicated the fire had been knocked down shortly after 9 a.m. Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue said the fire extended into the wildland off of Mt. Hood Street. As a result, the Sheriff’s Office established an evacuation zone in all directions one block from the intersection of West 18th and Mount Hood. That evacuation order was lifted at about 11:15 a.m. Responding agencies included MCFR, Wy’east, Sherman, Dallesport-Murdock, and Mosier fire departments, the Oregon Department of Forestry Central Oregon District, The Dalles Police Department, and Wasco County Sheriff’s Office.
Oregon Trail Rally This Weekend
The annual Oregon Trail Rally will be on roads in the Mid-Columbia this weekend. The rally cars will compete on roads outside Goldendale on Saturday and in the Dufur area on Sunday. The rally opens with a Friday evening event at Portland International Raceway. Cars will be in Goldendale on Saturday and can be viewed starting at 8 a.m. until about 10:30 on Main Street, while they will be in Dufur on Sunday morning at 8 a.m. A spectator guide is available at oregontrailrally.com.
Children’s Fair Saturday At The Dalles City Park
The annual Wasco County Children’s Fair will take place on Saturday in The Dalles City Park. Columbia Gorge Community College Child Care Partners puts the event on with help from 26 different agencies from around the area. Nancey Patten of Child Care Partners says it’s a free event to provide fun activities for children and their parents. There will be face painting, carnival style games, arts and crafters, music, and much more. It will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at The Dalles City Park.
Ten More Days For Chinook Fishing Downstream Of Bonneville Dam
Fishery managers from Oregon and Washington added ten additional fishing days for recreational spring Chinook downstream of Bonneville Dam during a joint state hearing this week. Fishery biologists are now expecting a return of 122,400 upriver-origin adult Chinook, similar to the pre-season forecast of 121,000. As of May 13, a total of 72,273 adult spring Chinook have passed Bonneville Dam, which is 89 percent of the 10-year average cumulative count and 123 percent of the 5-year average for this date. Typically, 50 percent of spring Chinook have passed Bonneville Dam by May 11. The season dates are now from Friday to Sunday this weekend, Saturday to Monday next weekend, and June 12 through June 15, from the Tongue Point/Rocky Point line upstream to Beacon Rock plus bank angling only from Beacon Rock upstream to the Bonneville Dam deadline. The spring Chinook allocation for the mainstem upstream of Bonneville Dam has already been met, so this area will not reopen until the summer Chinook season begins both upstream and downstream of Bonneville Dam on June 16.
Klickitat County Approves Bingen Point Permit
The Klickitat County Commission approved a Shorelines Conditional Use Permit for the Port of Klickitat to make improvements on about 40 acres of the Bingen Industrial Park to support light industrial development and recreational use. The only question from the Commission was whether parking for the boat launch at the park would be maintained, and Port Property Manager David Sauter said it would be. Work will include leveling, filling, constructing asphalt roadways and multi-use pathways, paving parking areas, improving access, relocating existing pumphouses, stormwater management, and constructing franchise utilities. The permit had received a unanimous recommendation from the Klickitat County Planning Commission.
Grant For Hood River Basin Partnership
The Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board has granted a Focused Investment Partnership award to the Hood River Basin Partnership. The Hood River Watershed Group says over the course of six years, partners will receive an anticipated total of $10,140,242 to implement projects in the Hood River Basin Aquatic Habitat Restoration Initiative.The Initiative includes the highest priority irrigation delivery and on-farm water conservation projects, instream and floodplain habitat restoration, stakeholder engagement, restoration design, and project effectiveness monitoring. The Hood River Basin Partnership – which includes the Hood River Watershed Group, the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs, Hood River Soil and Water Conservation District, the Hood River Ranger District of the U.S. Forest Service, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the East Fork, Farmers, and Middle Fork Irrigation Districts developed the Initiative with guidance from the Hood River Basin Strategic Action Plan that identifies and prioritizes restoration practices throughout the watershed.
Wasco County Sheriff Goes On X
The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office has added another social media outlet for putting out information. The Sheriff’s Office is now on X, which was formerly known as Twitter. A County spokesperson said it is in order to better reach the community during the wildfire season. In addition to the Wasco County Sheriff’s website and Facebook pages, emergency messages will also be posted on X through the end of wildfire season. Wasco County also has a Facebook page along with an Instagram page.
WAGAP Receives Funds From Skyline Health Foundation
The Skyline Health Foundation has awarded Washington Gorge Action Programs $8,000 as part of its 2024 Community Health Grant, which supports non-profit organizations that work to improve the health and well-being of the community within Skyline’s service area. WAGAP received a pair of grants: $5,000 for its Food Bank Nutrition program, and $3,000 for the Pathways Health Connect program. The Food Bank Network works to provide access to local and other cultural foods. The Pathways Health Connect program grant will support transportation to important medical and mental health appointments, and for prescription copays and medical supplies.
TD Budget Committee Finishes Work
The Dalles City Budget Committee wrapped up its work in two meetings, eliminating the need for a third. The Committee unanimously passed on the budget for the 2024-25 Fiscal Year with few significant changes. City Councilor Tim McGlothlin chaired the panel, and thanked the citizens who took part in looking over the financial document. McGlothlin added the committee played a role in finding a way to streamline how available funds are used. The budget now goes to the City Council for final approval in June.