300 homes threatened because 500 acres of wildfire burned in the gorge of the Columbia River near Mosier
MOSIER, Or. –State fire marshal to take command of 500-acre fire threatening 300 homes in Gorge Firefighters are working to put out a wildfire burning in the Columbia River Gorge Wednesday night that quickly grew to 500 acres near Mosier, Oregon, which is roughly five miles east of Hood River.
In response to the wildfire, the Gov. Kate Brown invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act, saying 300 homes were threatened by the fire. She said the Oregon fire marshal will take command of the fire at 8 a.m. Thursday. Her order authorizes the fire marshal to mobilize resources from around the state to fight the fire.
It was first reported after 4 p.m. Wednesday burning adjacent to Interstate 84.
The Oregon Department of Forestry tweeted about the fire near Mosier Creek Road at about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported.
At about 7 p.m. department spokesperson Christie Shaw estimated the Mosier Creek Fire at about 50 acres, but by about 8:15 the forestry department said it had increased to 200 acres - and less than two hours later, the Wasco County Sheriff's Office said on Facebook it had grown to about 500 acres.
Shaw said the blaze started as crews were mopping up another fire in the same area along Interstate 84 near Mosier. She said crews contained that fire at about 2 acres.
Shaw said investigators do not immediately know the cause of either fire.
Winds caused the second fire to spread, and around 6 p.m., the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office issued evacuation orders for people who live on several roads in the Mosier area. Other nearby residents were told to be ready to evacuate if necessary.
Shaw said the department of forestry estimates about 200 structures are threatened by the fire.
The Shilo Inn in The Dalles was made available as a shelter location for people evacuating because of the fire, the sheriff’s office said.
Governor Kate Brown Invokes the Emergency Conflagration Act in Response to the Mosier Creek Fire(Salem, OR) — Governor Kate Brown invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act in response to the Mosier Creek fire that broke out in Wasco County this evening. The fire is currently threatening 300 homes, and residents of Osborne Cutoff, Vensel, Carton, Dry Creek, Carroll, Morgenson, and from Chenoweth Airport to Vensel/Ketchum road are on level 3 evacuation. Oregon State Fire Marshal will assume command tomorrow at 8:00 a.m. and will work to bring resources from counties around Oregon to assist in the response. Oregon State Fire Marshal will be working under unified command with Oregon Department of Forestry.
Wildfire Season News.Firefighters are facing windy conditions that are causing the fire to grow. No containment has been achieved.Level 1, 2 and 3 evacuation have been ordered. Check out the Wasco County Sheriff's Office Facebook page for updated evacuation information.
The Oregon Department of Forestry says the fire is burning along Mosier Creek Road.Crews are attacking the fire from ground and from the air, with four large air tankers, fire boss aircraft dipping from the river, and several helicopters.The Hood River County Sheriff's Office said power is out for much of the county due to the fire.
Eastbound traffic on the interstate is seeing some delays while fire resource crews use the road shoulder, the Oregon Department of Transportation said.
The sheriff’s office said the Shilo Inn in The Dalles was available as a shelter for anyone who had to evacuate their home in the Mosier area.
Oregon Governor Kate Brown said in a statement around 9:20 p.m. that the fire was threatening about 300 homes, and invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act in response to the blaze, which she said makes more state resources available to fire crews. She said on Thursday morning, the Oregon State Fire Marshal will assume command of the fire.
The National Weather Service reported that wind speeds in the area are about 10 mph.
