Sept. 27, 2015. Sunday evening an off duty firefighter spotted smoke near the mouth of Indian Creek where it enters the Hood River. The fire spread up the canyon on the north side of Indian Creek.
As of Monday afternoon, the fire had covered two and a half acres. Firefighters have been able to keep the fire below the popular Indian Creek Trail and halt westward spread at the bend in trail (below Third Street). Indian Creek trail is currently closed.
Captain Dave Smith of the Hood River Fire Department had a crew stationed at 3rd and Pine Streets in Hood River to protect homes along the top of the canyon. He said crews are trying to get a fire line completely around the fire–difficult in the steep terrain. To assist a helicopter dropped water on the fire all day Monday.
While the cause is still unknown, there was no lightning in the area. The fire is on Oregon Department of Forestry protected land–they are the lead on the fire. Sunday evening crews from surrounding firefighting agencies responded: Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, City of Hood River, Westside, Wy’East, Cascade Locks, Bingen, White Salmon, and Husum.
