All Oregon state parks are under a fire ban, including campgrounds, day-use areas and beaches.  The ban includes wood, charcoal briquettes, candles, tiki torches and other devices that emit flames or embers.  Propane stoves and other cooking devices that have a shutoff valve are also prohibited.  The fire ban will be lifted as conditions improve and in coordination with state and local fire officials.  Many state parks remain open, but are experiencing poor air quality and frequent power outages.  Power failure could happen at any park without notice.  

The Bureau of Land Management’s Northwest Oregon District has temporarily closed all recreation sites and certain roads until September 15.  All BLM developed campgrounds in northwestern Oregon are closed to the public, and dispersed camping is prohibited.  Members of the public may not enter closed recreation areas.  This temporary closure covers the northwestern part of the state, west of the Cascade Range and north from Cottage Grove to the Columbia River.

The White River Fire reached 70% containment on Tuesday.  Fire incident commander Noel Livingston says the fire is essentially in patrol and mop-up status at this point, and didn’t experience growth during strong east winds on Monday.  Resource advisors will work with crews and heavy equipment operators to repair areas damaged by suppression activities and remove unneeded equipment and trash.   The fire has not grown in size for several days, remaining at 17,507 acres.   Logs and stumps continue to smolder and unburned islands are likely to burn inside the fire perimeter.  East winds will lead to Red Flag Warning conditions into Wednesday.  The Type 1 management team that has been in command of the White River Fire has now been placed in command of the Lionshead Fire to the south on the Warm Springs Reservation.  

There was one new COVID-19 case in Wasco County listed in Tuesday’s report from the Oregon Health Authority.  Wasco County is now at 223 cases recorded during the pandemic, with 186 listed as recovered using a 30-day standard.  Hood River County remains at 238 positive COVID-19 cases for the pandemic, with 234 listed as out of isolation.  Sherman County is still at 18 total cases, with 16 recovered.  All four of Gilliam County’s COVID-19 cases have recovered.  Statewide, the Oregon Health Authority reported 169 new confirmed or presumed COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, moving the statewide total to 28,355.  Four deaths were reported, putting that number at 486.  In Washington, Skamania County reported one new COVID-19 case in its latest numbers issued Tuesday morning, and it is the only active case in that county.  Klickitat County has not updated its statistics since the weekend, and it reported just two active cases.  The Washington Department of Health’s last update was on Monday, putting the total number of COVID-19 cases for the pandemic at 77,545, with 1,953 deaths.

The Hood River County Commission and City Councilors for the most part agreed they would like to see COVID-19 testing in the County increase, but how to do it remains a question.  The two panels held a joint meeting on Tuesday.  Hood River County actually has the third highest rate of testing in the state behind Jefferson and Sherman counties.  Resources and people to conduct the testing along with availability of testing agents.  Commission Chair Mike Oates says the testing issue is not new, and he would like to come up with a plan to start promoting this.  The discussion occurred as Hood River County has dropped to four active COVID-19 cases.  County Health Director Trish Elliott added they are currently monitoring nine other close contacts.

Fire officials reported another good day on the lines of the White River Fire on Thursday.  Incident Commander Trainee Randy Johnson said they were able to have a lot of success, with crews able to get into the bottom of the White River Canyon on the southwest corner of the fire, and other areas are beginning mop-up and suppression repair.  On Friday structure protection crews will continue to mop up and patrol in the Pine Grove area, while in the southwest section of the fire, firefighters will scout for and develop containment line in steep and complex terrain near the White River.  With temperatures in the 90s and low relative humidity, unburned islands in the fire interior are very dry and can be ignited by nearby smoldering fuels or blowing embers.  Light winds will keep fire active into the early evening.  The containment level for the 17,329 acre White River Fire has been moved up slightly to 41%.  

Mid-Columbia COVID-19 cases held steady as the Oregon Health Authority released its daily report on Thursday.  Wasco County remains at 212 total cases, with its number of recovered up to 167 using a 30-day standard.  The OHA reported no new cases for Hood River County in its Thursday report, leaving the pandemic total at 236, with the County having said on Wednesday that 223 are out of isolation, leaving 13 active cases.  Sherman County’s still at 18 total cases for the pandemic, but active cases are down to three with the North Central Public Health District adding a 15th case as recovered.  The OHA reported 274 new and presumptive COVID-19 cases statewide on Thursday, moving the state’s pandemic total to 27,336.  Three deaths that occurred between August 21 and August 23 were listed on Thursday, moving that number to 470.  In Washington, Klickitat County late Thursday night said it had no new cases to add to stay at 194 total cases for the pandemic, and that active cases were down to one.  Skamania County’s total case count remains at 59, with no active cases.  Statewide, Thursday’s update from the Washington Department of Health reported 479 new cases to move the statewide total of COVID-19 cases to 75,856, with ten deaths to put that total at 1,945.

Hazy, smoky air conditions will be an around this weekend in the southern part of the Wasco County as work on the White River Fire continues.  Dr. Kat Navarro is an air resource advisor for the U.S. Forest Service.  She says the areas around the White River Fire will see some smoke over the weekend, mainly around Highways 26 and 126 along with Tygh Valley.  Navarro adds there may be smoke coming in to the region from other fires, in particular the Lionshead fire on the Warm Springs Reservation and the Evans Creek Fire northwest of Yakima.  Navarro recommends if you see smoke in your area to limit vigorous outdoor activity and limit your exposure to the smoke.

The Oregon State Patrol says a man injured in a motorcycle accident on Highway 216E in Wasco County last weekend has died.  According to the OSP, 46-year-old Jason Burchfield of Milwaukie succumbed to his injuries at Oregon Health and Sciences University in Portland on Wednesday.  The accident occurred on Highway 216E at milepost 1.5 at about 2:30 last Saturday afternoon.  A preliminary investigation showed the motorcycle operated by Burchfeld was westbound when it failed to negotiate a curve and struck the rock embankment.

The City of The Dalles has received $200,000 from Business Oregon to distribute COVID-19 Emergency Business Assistance Grants in Wasco County.  The City has provided $150,000 and Wasco County $50,000 to match the grant funds.  Grants will be disbursed on a first come, first-served basis with $300,000 in funding available to businesses located within The Dalles and $100,000 in funding available to businesses in Wasco County outside of The Dalles city limits.   Eligible applicants are small businesses and non-profits with 25 or fewer employees that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic between March and August of 2020.  Businesses that have received federal emergency assistance under the federal CARES Act, the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program, Economic Injury Disaster Loan Emergency Advance Program or other federal emergency pandemic assistance funding may be eligible and are encouraged to apply.  Applications and a full list of eligibility requirements can be found at the City of The Dalles website.  Wasco County Economic Development Commission staff at MCEDD will begin accepting applications on Wednesday.