The Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge will be fully closed to all traffic Friday from 11 a.m. to approximately 1 p.m. to allow a bridge lift for marine traffic. Port officials say this closure is required under U.S. Coast Guard regulations, which mandate the bridge open upon receiving at least 12 hours’ notice from river traffic. The Port indicates it plans to reopen the bridge by 1 p.m. on Friday, but unforeseen circumstances or delays could extend the closure.
Remains Found In Storage Locker
Human remains have been found in an abandoned storage locker in The Dalles. The Dalles Police Department says it received a call Tuesday morning from a person who had purchased an abandoned storage locker at 2640 West 6th, and found within it a container that appeared to possibly contain human remains. The Columbia Gorge Major Crimes Team along with an Oregon State Police Crime Laboratory response team executed a search warrant to recover the remains. The Dalles Police Chief Tom Worthy says the Oregon State Medical Examiner will conduct an autopsy and determine the identity of the deceased. He also cautioned against speculating or drawing any conclusions based on what little is known so far.
Burdoin Fire Containment At 72%
Containment for the Burdoin Fire has moved up to 72%. Complex Incident Management Northwest Team 13 Section Operations Chief Jesse Stone says crews are continuing to secure containment lines in the Dixon Creek, Silvas Creek, and Klickitat River areas. Areas along Highway 14 remain in patrol status. To the north, with the Snyder Creek Fire fully contained, management of that fire has been returned to the local unit of the Washington Department of Natural Resources.
Evac Advisories For Snyder Canyon Rescinded
The Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office has rescinded all evacuation orders for the Snyder Canyon Fire. All evacuation orders for the Burdoin Fire remain in effect at this time. Evacuation maps are available on the Klickitat County Emergency Management Facebook page. Late Tuesday afternoon there was a fire in eastern Klickitat County. The vegetation fire along Old Highway 8 near Sundale was reported just after 4:30 p.m., and led to the road being closed and evacuation advisories for a brief time. Fire crews were able to stop the fire after a little over an hour, allowing the advisories to be rescinded.
Fund Set Up For Victims Of Burdoin & Snyder Canyon Fires
Klickitat County Emergency Management says a fund has been set up for community support to assist victims of the Burdoin & Snyder Canyon Wildfires. Financial donations are being accepted at this time and arrangements are being made to streamline the donation of in-kind items. Monetary donations can be made to the Klickitat Valley Fire Victims Fund in support of the Burdoin-Snyder Wildfire Relief Fund. One hundred percent of funds collected will go directly to the fire victims. Klickitat County Emergency Management has placed a link to make donations on its Burdoin and Snyder Canyon Fire page. Checks can be sent by mail to Klickitat Valley Fire Victims Funds, 327 W. Brooks St. in Goldendale, zip code 98620.
Fund Set Up For Victims Of Burdoin & Snyder Canyon Fires
Klickitat County Emergency Management says a fund has been set up for community support to assist victims of the Burdoin & Snyder Canyon Wildfires. Financial donations are being accepted at this time and arrangements are being made to streamline the donation of in-kind items. Monetary donations can be made to the Klickitat Valley Fire Victims Fund in support of the Burdoin-Snyder Wildfire Relief Fund. One hundred percent of funds collected will go directly to the fire victims. Klickitat County Emergency Management has placed a link to make donations on its Burdoin and Snyder Canyon Fire page. Checks can be sent by mail to Klickitat Valley Fire Victims Funds, 327 W. Brooks St. in Goldendale, zip code 98620.
Scenic Area Staff Putting Together Rebuilding Guidance
Columbia River Gorge Commission staff have been putting together a guide that will be posted on their website to help provide guidance for those who have lost their homes that are within the National Scenic Area in both the Rowena and Burdoin fires. Addressing the Klickitat County Commission on Tuesday, Gorge Commission Executive Director Krystyna Wolniakowski said her staff is looking to be as helpful as they can to those who have to rebuild their homes. Gorge Commission Planner McKenzie Aamodt said the quickest path to rebuilding is to build “like for like” in the same footprint and location as the home was located on, as that eliminates many of the usual required reviews to build a home in the Scenic Area. The Gorge Commission website is gorgecommission.org.
Burdoin Fire Damage Assessments Being Collected
Damage assessments are beginning to be accumulated for the Burdoin Fire. Klickitat County Emergency Management Director Jeff King told the County Commission during its Tuesday meeting that preliminary data shows nineteen homes were destroyed and 47 damaged, and he expected the number of destroyed will go up. He added thirty other buildings were destroyed and fifty more damaged. But King noted a large majority of structures were saved, with 82% of the primary residences in the fire footprint having been saved.
Burdoin Fire At 69% Containment
Containment of the Burdoin Fire has progressed to 69% as firefighters continue to widen and secure lines around the perimeter. Complex Incident Management Northwest Team 13 operations section chief Jesse Stone says they are focusing on a section on the west side of the Dixon Creek area, and crews will probably be there for a day or two to ensure its under control. Stone adds people will see smoke from burning of interior pockets of the fire. In fully contained areas, crews are shifting to repair work, disposing of brush and branches cleared from along roadways, gathering up equipment and supplies that are no longer needed, and rehabilitating hand and dozer line.
The Dalles Council Gets First Street Update
Community Development Director Joshua Chandler updated The Dalles City Council on progress towards the long-discussed First Street project. Chandler told the Council archaeological coordination with the State Historic Preservation Office is on-going, right-of-way and easement acquisitions are being completed, and they are finalizing coordination with Union Pacific Railroad. He adds they are trying to do the project in parallel with development of the Federal Street Plaza. Chandler noted since the First Street Project was conceived nearly twenty years ago, there has been 24 different City Councilors, five mayors, five community development directors, three city managers, and three public works directors.