Fire officials worry that a series of recent blazes around Mosier, Oregon, might not be coincidental
Responding to the Mosier Creek Fire, U.S. Forest Service firefighters work to save a large Ponderosa pine. Photo by Jurgen Hess
By Jurgen Hess. August 13, 2020. Two fires that began at about the same time last night near Mosier, Oregon, are raising concerns with fire officials. And they may be connected to a third.
“Three fires and there hasn’t been any lightning,” Rob Pentzer, Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) incident commander, told Columbia Insight this morning. “The Fir Mountain Fire is (already) being investigated as of suspicious origin. And last night there was a fire on I-84 and this Mosier Creek Fire.”
First reported on August 1, the Fir Mountain Fire led to a Level 1 evacuation notice for the Mosier Creek Road area. Now fully contained, ODF determined that fire was human-caused. Investigation is ongoing.
Last night’s Mosier-area fires have ignited suspicions of a connection.
The Mosier Creek Fire imperiled scattered homes along Dry Creek Road. Fire damage on the hillside behind this home is visible. The super-hot blaze laid waste to numerous trees. Photo by Jurgen Hess
Shortly after it was reported, fire crews extinguished a small fire on Interstate 84 near Mosier.
But the Mosier Creek Fire continues to burn near houses, buildings and power lines.
At 1:15 this morning, infrared mapping put the size of the Mosier Creek Fire at 791 acres. A Type 2 Incident Command System team is being called in to manage the fire.
With scattered houses and extremely dry vegetation, the Dry Creek drainage and Carroll Road area are taking the brunt of the Mosier Creek Fire damage. One house has been burned.
Firefighters from the ODF, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and private teams were all battling the blaze as of this afternoon.
I appreciate your late-breaking news on the fires and the Gorge Commission. Fran
Chuck, Jurgen, and Susan: Many thanks for your excellent report and images of the Mosier Creek Fire! I’m sickened to hear that an arsonist probably caused it. But I greatly appreciate the
hard, dangerous work of the firefighters from the three agencies and private citizens.
I haven’t read much of your stuff before, but I’d like to respectfully point out that the the title of this article seems very sensational, in comparison to the content of the article. I don’t really see anything at all in the article itself to support the claim made in the title. There’s one quote from one ODF person saying there hasn’t been any lightning. That’s it. I live in the Mosier, and love to support local endeavors…but this makes me skeptical of relying on this source for any true “journalistic” reporting.