With containment of the Burdoin Fire now at 94%, management of the fire transitioned from Complex Incident Management Northwest Team 13 to a Type 4 incident management organization on Sunday. The Type 4 group will continue to monitor and patrol firelines and extinguish hotspots within 200 feet of residences and structures across the fire footprint. Interior smoke and hot spots are anticipated to remain on the landscape. Concerned residents who see smoke or flames near their homes should report them to 911. The area around the “horseshoe” east of the Klickitat River has lines secured 100 to 200 feet, but fire managers are not ready to call it fully contained at this time. The Type 4 team will continue to widen and reinforce those control lines. In addition, the Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday afternoon rescinded all remaining evacuation advisories for the fire area. The fire was listed as 10,675 acres in size.
The Dalles Wastewater Plant Effluent Discharge Exceeds E.Coli Limit
The City of The Dalles says its Wastewater Treatment Plant has discharged effluent that exceeds the plant’s limit for E. coli due to incomplete disinfection. Sample test results on Friday morning indicated an E. coli exceedance. Several resamples in the following 24 hour period confirmed that the disinfection is still incomplete. The Dalles Public Works says the cause of the exceedance is still under investigation and rigorous water quality monitoring is ongoing. The ultraviolet disinfection process has been ramped up to maximum capacity in an attempt to bring E. coli counts back within permitted limit, and the increased frequency of sampling until E. coli counts are back within permit limits. Samples will also be taken at pre-arranged locations in the river to provide data on the effect of the discharge on water quality in the river. Signs have been placed at locations of public river access on the Oregon shore of the Columbia River, from The Dalles Riverfront Park to the West Mayer Park boat launch. The signs say: “Warning – Contaminated Water – No water contact” and give phone numbers to call for information.
Strawberry Mountain Water Pressure Zone Conservation Still In Place
The City of White Salmon says the Stage 3 water conservation measure for the Strawberry Mountain Pressure Zone remains in effect, as a newly manufactured replacement pump impeller at the Los Altos Reservoir is not yet delivering the water pressure levels necessary to fully stabilize the system. A statement from the City on Monday morning says technicians are actively troubleshooting the issue, and working to evaluate backup approaches should the pump ultimately prove defective. The City says it is not responsible for the manufacturing discrepancy and remains committed to ensuring that any final repair meets its engineering standards and operational requirements. The Stage 3 water conservation notice issued in late July instituted an odd-even schedule for irrigation, but prohibits most other outdoor uses of water.
Trevitt Street Closed For Water Main Upgrade Monday & Tuesday
The Dalles Public Works is working on Trevitt Street between West 10th and West 11th to replace and upgrade a water main. A full street closure on Trevitt St. will be in place today and tomorrow. Motor vehicles and bicyclists will be detoured to adjacent side streets. Pedestrian and sidewalk access will remain open through the duration of this work. Work hours are from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days, but the trench must remain open overnight to cure in place before the asphalt patch is installed. No parking will be allowed within the project areas to allow room for large equipment to safely work.
HR Schools Happy With Federal Funding Release
The Hood River County School District says it is happy with the U.S. Department of Education’s announcement to states that it will award Fiscal Year 2025 funding that had been withheld last month pending review. District Superintendent Bill Newton says he was relieved the grants are now expected to be awarded, adding it provides clarity and stability as the district’s budget and staffing plans are finalized. Items supported by the grants include migrant education programs, teacher and leader preparation, English learning for immigrant children and youth, student support and academic enrichment, and the third year of the EXCEL after-school program. Migrant education funding reached 435 students in 2024-25, approximately 11% of district enrollment, and about 300 students at Parkdale, Mid-Valley, and Cascade Locks elementary schools, and Wy’east Middle School are served by the EXCEL program, which is in the third year of a five-year grant.
Burdoin Fire At 90% Containment
Containment of the 10,675 acre Burdoin Fire has moved up to 90%. Complex Incident Management Team Northwest 13 officials say firefighters have secured containment lines along the Klickitat River and are working their way northwest along Silvas Creek, while suppression repair continues in most areas of the fire. Aviation and other fire resources assisted the Gifford Pinchot National Forest with several initial attack responses Thursday. The Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office announced it had reduced all evacuation advisories by one level. Previously Level 2 areas have dropped to Level 1, and areas formerly in Level 1 have seen their advisories rescinded completely. All local roads within the fire area remain for local access only. The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area has lifted closure orders for Balfour-Klickitat, Lyle Trailhead, Klickitat Milepost 1, and Klickitat Wild and Scenic River recreation sites. The Catherine Creek Recreation Area and Coyote Wall Trailhead remain closed to the public. The American Red Cross will be distributing supplies to those whose homes were destroyed or significantly damaged in the Burdoin Fire on Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. at White Salmon’s Grace Baptist Church and the Lyle Celebration Center. Supplies available include rakes, shovels, Tyvek suits, bottled water, tarps, work gloves, safety goggles, trash bags, KN95 masks, storage totes, hand sanitizer, and cleanup kits.
Hatchery Steelhead Retention Extended On The Columbia River
Fishery managers from Oregon and Washington have extended hatchery steelhead retention for recreational anglers on the mainstem Columbia River downstream of The Dalles Dam. Steelhead retention was initially planned to be closed in this area beginning Friday, but the season was extended through August 31. Retention of one hatchery steelhead is now allowed in the daily adult salmon/steelhead bag limit for the mainstem Columbia River from the Buoy 10 line upstream to the Highway 395 Bridge in Pasco. Passage of steelhead through Bonneville Dam as of Wednesday had already surpassed the preseason forecasted total return. Passage is typically only 30% complete through this date.
Truck Driver Arrested For Reckless Driving On Highway 97
A truck driver was arrested Wednesday evening in Sherman County for reckless driving on Highway 97. According to the Sherman County Sheriff’s Office, it received a report of southbound semi-truck and trailer near milepost 6. The caller said the truck was observed illegally passing a slower-moving vehicle in a clearly marked no-passing zone while navigating a blind corner. A northbound vehicle narrowly avoided a head-on collision with the semi by braking abruptly and veering completely off the roadway, and a witness traveling behind the semi-truck reported that the suspect driver appeared to make no effort to avoid the near collision. Sheriff’s deputies located the semi-truck near milepost 14 on Highway 97, stopped it, and took the driver, identified as a Sacramento man, into custody on one count of reckless driving and three counts of reckless endangerment.
Line Work Continues On Burdoin Fire
Firefighters continue to work on securing and widening lines on the Burdoin Fire. Along the west side of Silvas Creek down to the Klickitat River, an unmanned aircraft system is still detecting heat signatures in rough terrain. Crews have started backhauling hoses and pumps from Catherine and Major creeks. Dixon Creek is now in repair and patrol status, and lines are fully secured around Canyon Road, but crews continue to work on extinguishing heat in some interior pockets. At the east end of the fire, crews are still working in timbered areas to widen containment lines up to 250 feet. Fire size has been reduced to 10,675 acres, reflecting a deduction of the two interior islands that did not burn. Containment is at 79%.
Benefit Events For Fire Victims
Mid-Columbia Community Action is now accepting furniture donations for Rowena Fire victims along with general client housing transitions. Specific needs at this time include a large sturdy recliner for a client with specific mobility needs, and a queen bed frame and side-by-side washer/dryer set for a couple. If you are interested in donating furniture or household items, email mstarrett@mccac.com or call 541-965-8402. The Lyle Lions Club announced their monthly pancake breakfast this Saturday will be a fundraiser for victims of fires in Klickitat County. The breakfast will be from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday at the Lyle Lions Community Center on 5th Street and Highway 14.