9/6/2017 Eagle Creek Fire

Tuesday was a quieter day on the Eagle Creek Fire. The fire did not make large runs or show the extreme fire behavior it did the night before. With the shift to westerly winds, the southeast corner of the fire, near Indian Mountain, became more active with some crown runs. An infrared flight last night mapped the fire at 30,929 acres. The Archer Mountain Fire north of the Columbia River is 112 acres and is being managed by a Washington Department of Natural Resources Type 3 Team.

The historic Multnomah Falls Lodge, built in 1925, is being protected by Oregon State Fire Marshal’s structural firefighters. Several structural engines and one aerial ladder truck have been working with water tenders to keep the lodge wetted down. Visit the Eagle Creek and Indian Creek Fires Facebook page to see pictures of the lodge.

Ian Yocum, Incident Commander with the Oregon State Fire Marshal said firefighters were successful in additional structure protection efforts yesterday. An unused residential structure was found to have burned the night before, along with 4 outbuildings, but no further structures were lost.

Today fire personnel between Bridge of the Gods and Bonneville Dam will be conducting burning operations to remove fuels between the dozer lines and the fire edge near Cascade Locks, starting at 7:30 a.m. This will cause an increased visibility of smoke in the area, but is essential in helping to provide for community and firefighter safety.

Defending private property, historical structures in the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area, the various State Parks in the area and the Bull Run Watershed will continue to be top priorities for firefighters.

I-84 remains closed from Troutdale to Hood River due to rocks, snags and other debris the roadway. Oregon Department of Transportation will be working closely with the Unified Command team to determine when it will be safe to open.

The winds have shifted to the west, bringing cooler and moister air to the fire area. The wind shift could push the fire to the east, especially in the higher elevations in the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness. A Fire Weather Watch is in effect this afternoon for potential lightning.

For real time and current evacuation information, please contact the Multnomah, Hood River, or Skamania County Sheriff's Offices.