Eagle Creek Fire within quarter mile of Cascade Locks

Eagle Creek Fire, Monday. September 4, 2017, 1:30 p.m.

The fire is now at 3,200 acres. No additional evacuations have been ordered since yesterday, said Hood River County Sheriff Matt English. Rock Creek Center across the river in Stevenson, Washington is providing a place for evacuees. English had just returned from there and said everything is going well. “The highest priority is structural protection,” English said.

Pieces of burnt conifer needles and ash were falling even 20 miles away in Hood River and White Salmon.

Oregon Governor Kate Brown has invoked the Conflagration Act, which means that all the structural (city/county) fire departments that can come to help get reimbursed for their costs.

Cascade Locks resident Dave Gierke lives on SadieB Drive, on the south side of town. He has sprinklers going on his roof and all around his house. “I’m going to stay and protect my house; I want to keep everything moist. I’m hoping for the best.”

Lt. Jim Pulito, with Columbia River Fire and Rescuse, Sacoppose, Oregon is currently stationed nearby on Sternwheeler Drive and Spelling Place. He brought a crew of 18 and three engines.

“There is five mile closure around the fire for all aircraft and drones,” said Mike Renault, Hood River County Reserve Deputy. This will take in part of the Indian Creek Fire now just two air miles away from the Eagle Creek fire. Fire Bosses (an amphibious scooper air tanker) continuously swoop water from the Columbia, drop water on the fire, and fly back to the Columbia to reload.

“After the danger is past, we will be working to get people back into their houses,” Sheriff English said. “Right now it is important to have good collaboration and communication between all the different fire departments and agencies.”

Hood River Fire Department Facebook page has additional information.

Eagle Creek Fire. Sunday, Sept. 03, 2017. 7 p.m.

[media-credit id=2 align=”alignright” width=”1024″][/media-credit]

In Cascade Locks, Oregon, 283 homes, including 15 businesses, have been evacuated today due to a forest fire now burning within a quarter mile of the town, Incident Commander Loretta Duke told EnviroGorge. The Multnomah County Sheriff department has gone door-to-door advising people of the evacuation notice.

Fire investigators have determined that the fire was started by someone on the Eagle Creek Trail using fireworks.

The fire started Saturday. As of this evening the fire is being pushed east by winds. There is a high probability that the wind direction will shift tonight. Airplanes, called Fire Bosses, are scooping water out of the Columbia River and dumping it on the fire.

Smoke is a health concern in the area of the fire and those with health conditions affected by smoke should stay indoors, said Rachael Pawlitz, Public Affairs Officer for the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.