9/10/2017 Eagle Creek Fire Update

Contact Information: Fire Information 541-392-1632 (8 a.m.-8 p.m.) or eaglecreekfire2017@gmail.com

Location: Hood River and Multnomah Counties, Oregon; 1 mile south of Cascade Locks, Oregon
Start Date: September 2, 2017, 4:02 p.m. Size: Approximately 33,382 acres
Cause: Unknown Percent Contained: 7
Two community meetings will be held on Monday, September 11, to share information about the Eagle Creek Fire:
6 p.m. at the Edgefield Amphitheater, 2126 Halsey Street, in Troutdale and
7:00 p.m. at the Marine Park Pavilion in Cascade Locks

Summary:
Conditions were calm over the Eagle Creek Fire for most of the day, yesterday. As early smoke and clouds cleared later in the day, fire managers took the opportunity to make aerial observations of the fire. Their flight showed many reasons to be positive about progress being made toward containing the fire. Firefighters continued to close off the western end of the fire near Bridal Veil by strengthening line with burnouts. That burn didn’t really take hold until the afternoon hours when it finally got some sun and lower humidity. Much of the southwest side, difficult to reach because of steep, rugged conditions actually burned back on itself throughout the day.

The aerial reconnaissance detected very little smoke in the critical area north of the Bull Run Watershed. The fire continued backing slowly down around the basins on the southeast fire perimeter and good preparation work was done above Lake Branch Road. All along the southeast and eastern flanks of the fire, scouting is underway to tie together a series of roads and trails to create a barrier to the fire’s eastern progression without putting firefighters in hazardous conditions encountered during a direct attack. The most active part of the fire yesterday was near Herman Creek; however, the fire has not yet crossed the creek.

Weather is due to change, becoming drier and warmer today and Monday and more active fire behavior is expected as a result. The changing weather conditions will begin to test the hard work firefighters have put in during the break from dry, hot, windy conditions.
Oregon State Fire Marshall (OSFM) structural crews will assist west end of the fire with burnout operations. A structure fire engine and a water tender will be at Multnomah Falls. OSFM crews will also be assisting with burnout in Cascade Locks and performing structure protection in the Level I Evacuation Zone in Hood River.

Personnel Assigned: Type 1 (hot) crews, 12 Type 2 crews and 5 Type 2 Initial Attack Crews; 96 Engines; 10 helicopters; 969 Personnel