The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office has lowered the Level 3 Evacuation notices to Level 2 in the area of the Memaloose 2 Fire. This is from the intersection of Highway 30 and Marsh cutoff all the way east to the bottom of the Rowena Loops. That includes both sides of Highway 30, Rowena Dell, Rowena Overlook and Canyon Way all the way down to Rowena Ferry Road. Highway 30 is now open with no restrictions. Marsh Cutoff and Dell Road are open to local traffic only as fire suppression efforts continue in the area. You can find updates on evacuations on the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page Crews battling the fire, approximately 3 miles East of Mosier, had a strong night of mop-up, supported by lower temperatures and higher humidity. Control lines are 100% completed around the fire perimeter, which decreases the risk of fire spread. Resources on the fire include 252 personnel, 35 engines, 4 dozers and an incident management team. Crews will be looking for smoke and hot spots today for mop-up. Smoke and flames may be visible inside the fire perimeter. The fire was held to 175 acres overnight, with containment at 35%.    

      Crews battling the Memaloose 2 Fire, approximately 3 miles East of Mosier, had a strong night of mop-up Saturday night, supported by lower temperatures and higher humidity. Control lines are 100% completed around the fire perimeter, which decreases the risk of fire spread. Evacuation levels have not changed. Level 3 (go now) notices are still in effect from the intersection of Highway 30 and Marsh cutoff all the way east to the bottom of the Rowena Loops. That includes both sides of Highway 30, Rowena Dell, Rowena Overlook and Canyon Way all the way down to Rowena Ferry Road. Level 2 (get set) notices are for the intersection of State Road and Marsh cutoff to Dell Road. That includes both sides of the road. Level 1 (get ready) notices start at the bottom of the Rowena Loops heading east to the west end of Tooley Lake, both sides of I-84 and both sides of Hiway 30 and also Mayer State Park. For updates on evacuations, go to the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. Resources on the fire include 252 personnel, 35 engines, 4 dozers and an incident management team. Crews will be looking for smoke and hot spots today for mop-up. Smoke and flames may be visible inside the fire perimeter. The fire was held to 175 acres overnight, with containment at 35%.  

Officials at the Memaloose 2 Fire reported tonight that firefighters were successful today in maintaining the perimeter of the fire within its existing 175 acre footprint despite strong winds. Containment increased to 35% this evening.  With completion of fireline today, crews are now putting hoselays around the fire and beginning to mop up heat within the interior of the fire near the perimeter.  Washington Department of Natural Resources Fire Boss air tankers and helicopters were used to cool hot spots.  No structures have been damaged by the fire, and structural task forces are in place.   The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office established a Level 3 (Go Now) evacuation notice this morning for the intersection of Highway 30 and Marsh cutoff all the way east to the bottom of the Rowena loops, including both sides of Highway 30, Rowena Dell, and Rowena Overlook all the way to Canyon Way.   There is a Level 2 (Get Set To Go) evacuation advisory for the intersection of State Road and Marsh Cutoff to Dell Road. This includes both sides of the road.   Level 1 (Get Ready) evacuation advisories are in place starting at the bottom of the Rowena Loops to the west end of Tooley Lake, both sides of Interstate 84 and both sides of Highway 30 as well as Mayor State Park.   Highway 30 is closed from the Memaloose Overlook to the Rowena Interstate 84 interchange.   The Red Cross has opened an information center at The Dalles Middle School.  It will be open from noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday.

The South Valley Fire is now 100 percent contained, and the Oregon Department of Forestry Type 2 Incident Management Team transferred control of the fire location to an ODF Type 4 Team in The Dalles Unit.  The local ODF fire staff will patrol the area and monitor for smokes frequently throughout the remainder of fire season.  Officials say there may be visible smokes in the interior portion of the fire for the remainder of the summer.  The public is advised to call 9-1-1 should they become concerned about any smoke or flame they feel is a threat to structures or resources.  The fire that started last Thursday covered 20,026 acres, burning three primary structures and 15 outbuildings.  The ODF Team 2 expressed appreciation to the community of Dufur for their support.

The Cow Canyon Fire that broke out Thursday afternoon near the junction of Highways 97 and 197 is now fully lined.  The Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center reported that crews are working to put out hotspots and burning juniper near the line.  It was mapped at 519 acres.  The Ashwood Rural Fire Protection Association, Bureau of Land Management, and air tankers were joined by the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s office, Wasco County Sheriff, Oregon State Police, and Oregon Department of Transportation in responding to the fire.  The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office this morning lifted Level 1 evacuation advisories for Shaniko and Antelope.  Cause of the fire is undetermined.

The proposed affordable housing development in Hood River on the Morrison Park property did not receive funding from Oregon Housing and Community Services in its latest round of funding awards this week.  Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation had made a proposal to receive funding through the federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit and HOME awards that leverage local, state, and private investments.  In spite of not being selected, CCHC Board President Scott Clements says they feel they will be in a better position to apply for the next round of funding, expected to be at the beginning of 2019.  The Hood River City Council rezoned the park property, known as tax lot 700, in June 2017 to develop it for affordable housing.

Mt. Hood National Forest fire personnel are encouraging visitors to take precautions to prevent human-caused wildfires.  Human causes, such as abandoned and illegal campfires, and target shooting are responsible for the majority of wildfires on the Mt. Hood National Forest.   Of thirty wildfires reported this year, only one was started by lightning.   Fire personnel have been occupied extinguishing 200 abandoned campfires in the past several weeks.  Now through August 21st, a multi-agency national Fire Prevention and Education Team, comprised of professionals from the U.S. Forest Service and the Georgia Forestry Commission in partnership with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Land Management and other federal, state and local agencies will visit dispersed camp sites, historic sites, campgrounds and other areas around the Mt. Hood National Forest to assist with educating visitors about the restrictions and how they can protect lives and property from wildfire.

The annual Cruise The Gorge event is this weekend in The Dalles.  The Neon Cruise kicks off the event at 6:30 Friday evening, followed by the Show In The Shade on Saturday at Sorosis Park, and the Vintage Dufur Days Classic Car Show and Dallesport Drags set for Sunday.  For a second straight year the Neon Cruise is a “controlled cruise,” requiring registration to take part.  Anyone can take part in the cruise.  The registration fee is five dollars, with all proceeds going to The Dalles Main Street program.  Registration for the cruise and the show on Saturday will take place at Burgerville in downtown The Dalles on Friday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

A 52-year-old man had to be airlifted to a Portland hospital on Wednesday afternoon after suffering a severe back injury jumping from the top of Rock Creek Falls.  According to the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office, Robert Joseph Sellars impacted the rocks below the falls, resulting in a serious back injury.  Crews from Stevenson Fire/Skamania Fire District 2 and Skamania County EMS were able to reach Sellars by navigating through chest deep water, then stabilize him and move him from the shallow water.  A helicopter from U.S. Coast Guard Astoria was able to hoist Sellars out of the canyon and take him to Oregon Health Sciences University Hospital in Portland.  The sheriff’s office says Sellars’ wife told them her husband is a “cliff diver” and videos himself jumping off cliffs and posting the footage on his website.  She and her sons were filming Sellars’ jump from below.

The containment level for the South Valley Fire has moved up to 90 percent, as the final night shift crew wrapped up its work.  Crews continue to focus on mop-up and patrolling the fire perimeter and unburned islands.  That work continues to be tested by high temperatures and gusty winds.  The Oregon Department of Forestry indicates sufficient resources will remain assigned to the fire to patrol and handle any problems that may arise.  Other resources will begin to demobilize.  Due to high temperatures, Wasco County Sheriff Lane Magill is keeping the evacuation advisory for the South Valley Fire areas at Level 1 through the weekend.  Cost of fighting the 20,026 acre fire is now at $5.23 million.